When you think of the country Germany in general, some of the first thoughts that people might come up with could be beer, castles, pastry, auto’s or Boris Becker, but not many would come up with basketball. Ok so Germany did produce Dirk Nowitzki, the greatest German basketball player, but when it comes to international Fiba play, Germany has had their moments winning the Euro in 93 and getting a silver at the 2005 Euro and Bronze at the 2002 World cup, but between 2005 and 2022, Germany was just a side note until last year when they finally won again with a Bronze at the Euro. In the last decade Germany has produced incredible talent and sent guys to the NBA. At the moment Germany has Dennis Schroeder, the Wagner brothers, Daniel Theis, Maxi Kleber and Isaiah Hartenstein in the NBA. Of course some of the past German teams will argue, but the current squad is most likely the most talented team that Germany has ever ensembled. The team face off against USA tomorrow and are no massive underdog. Germany have an 0-3 record against USA in the Olympics and lost their last 2 games at the 92 and 2008 Olympics with a combined score of 93 points. But those days of getting mauled are long over. Germany and the rest of the world have caught up. For the longest time, I only had team USA as the invincible master because of all the NBA stars that have surfaced from Doctor J to Lebron James in my lifetime. But Team USA doesn’t have the typical 12 man roster as the big time stars like Durant, Curry, Lillard, Tatum etc are missing. Germany have an incredible good chance of winning this game. Am I afraid of losing? No, because no maatter what the outcome of this game will be, I can’t lose. As an American, I’ll be ecstatic if they win, but if Germany wins, I can be just as happy since I’m half German. ‘This is a huge game for Germany. They haven’t lost a game yet and now get the ultimate test against USA. The German NBA guys will play against the American NBA guys and will know what to expect. It is a great feeling for me to see my ex coach Gordie Herbert coach. It should be a great game’, stressed Quantez Robertson (188-SG-1984, college: Auburn, agency: Interperformances).
I could of asked hundreds of players to rap basketball about this historic game, but I chose one of my favorite interview partners from the last decade with Quantez Robertson. There is no place where he could hide in the Frankfurt arena, because I always caught up with him after a game. I reach Quantez Robertson on a Wednesday night in Germany less than 48 hours before game time. Team USA has so much history and their greatest team ever the 1992 Dream team is one that Quantez Robertson didn’t experience on TV simply because he was only 7 years ago, but of course heard about it soon after when he got older. ‘Dream team 92 was the team with Jordan, Bird, Magic and all those other guys. Jordan was my favorite and the guy I knew most about’, stated Quantez Robertson. But one thing Tez as everyone called him for 14 years in Germany knows about is the 2023 team USA at the World Cup. He has followed their path from home in Alabama and seen a bunch of guys that have no mega superstar, but 12 incredible players that have outstanding individual skills and for the most part have played very well together. He has been impressed with their 5-1 record heading into the semi-final clash against Germany. ‘Team USA has been playing pretty good. I think if they continue to be physical and keep sharing the ball, then they will continue to be successful. I think that they are saving their best for last. They will put on a good show’, warned Quantez Robertson. Team USA have 4 guys averaging double figures and 3 guys averaging 8 points. They have many weapons and stacked at every position. If one had to name one main leader then it has been Anthony Edwards. Will his great play at the World Cup propel him to the next level in the NBA? ‘This is no surprise. He already has shown in the NBA how good he is. I think he will really become a force in the NBA this season’, stated Quantez Robertson. Team USA has many dominant scorers, but one who has been beneath himself has been New York Knick Brandon Ingram averaging only 5,7ppg in the competition. ‘That has been a big surprise. He is a great scorer that can put up a lot of points in a short amount of time’, said Quantez Robertson.
Even if he is American, he must have a little spot in his heart for Team Germany? He played numerous years under Gordon Herbert in Frankfurt starting in his rookie season in 2009 reaching the BBL final and then winning the Fiba Europe Cup together in 2016 and was teammates with Johannes Voigtmann for 4 seasons. He has been very impressed by the perfect 6-0 record. ‘They have been playing very well. They play together and hard. They actually have been playing crazy. If you can keep Dennis Schroeder in the game, you will always have a chance’, commented Quantez Robertson. What was even more amazing was that Germany won it’s first 5 games without top player Franz Wagner of the Orlando Magic. ‘Wagner was a bit banged up. That just goes to show you how good this team really is. They play really well together’, expressed Quantez Robertson. Team leader Dennis Schroeder has been a force even if he went a little overboard against Latvia with ego play which almost cost Germany the game as the opponent had one last look to win the game but missed. Tez played against Schroeder 10 years ago in Germany and remembers him well. ‘He is tough and fast. He wasn’t as outspoken then as he is now. He is more of a leader now and a more aggressive scorer. I didn’t guard him much. I usually had to guard Immanuel Mcelroy. But I had a couple of chances against him. It evened out’, remembered Quantez Robertson. There was some controversy in the game against Slovenia where Germany was trailing bad after one quarter and Herbert and Schroeder had a heated exchange at the bench. ‘Me and some of the old guys talked about this. Gordy takes no bull from anyone. He is tough but a fair coach. When he wants you to sit down, you do it. You need a breather during the time out and are getting ready to play again. It’s not always about you. You need to listen to the coach’, stressed Quantez Robertson. Unless Schroeder is totally cold again like against Latvia, you won’t totally be able to stop him. ‘I think team USA will use a trio of players to slow him down with Bridges, Brunson and Edwards. It depends who is on the floor’, warned Quantez Robertson. His ex teammate Johannes Voigtmann has had a quiet World Cup putting up 4/5/2/1 stats or has he? ‘I wouldn’t say it has been quiet. It isn’t easy when you have a bunch of NBA guys getting a lot of minutes and taking a few more shots, it’s tough. He has played well and as always makes the right play with the pass or with the pick and pop’, added Quantez Robertson.
Germany had a nail bitter win against Latvia while USA cruised easily past Italy. Germany led big in a friendly game against USA a few weeks ago, but still lost 99-91. What kind of game can we await? ‘I think both teams will put on a good show. It won’t be a bad game. It will definitely be well coached that’s for sure’, warned Quantez Robertson. So what will be the keys to winning for both sides? ‘Germany can’t rely on Dennis to dominate the whole time. Every guy has to contribute. Also a good shooting day wouldn’t hurt either. They also have to make sure to slow down the game and try to keep it in the half court, otherwise USA will try to run up the score. I think both teams are matched up pretty evenly inside. USA hasn’t rebounded well on the offensive glass. USA has to stay away from the 1-1 play and not get away from what they did in the exhibition game they won. USA has to be aware though that Germany is a better team now then a few weeks ago when they lost to them’, warned Quantez Robertson. Tez knows his ex coach Gordon Herbert inside out. Will we see him release any tricks from his sleeve? ‘There won’t be any tricks from Gordie. He will have the right guys out there at all times. He will have them well prepared and deliver a good pre game speech’, said Quantez Robertson. So then I ask the legend the most stupid question of all with what the outcome will be. ‘Well of course, Team USA is going to win. I predict a 105-94 win’, chuckled Quantez Robertson. Of course he will also be keeping a close eye on Team Canada. With Phil Scrubb and Trae Bell-Haynes, Tez has two ex teammates who could battle Team USA for the Gold on Sunday. ‘Canada has a lot of NBA guys and have been playing well. I think Canada can go as far as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wants to go. He is their motor. They will beat Serbia 90-87’, stated Quantez Robertson. 5 years ago Tez was teammates with Phil Scrubb. They have many fond memories together. ‘I’m pretty proud of Phil. He may not be getting many minutes and scoring the way he knows how, but he is still the same Phil. He can always score and create his own shot. I will never forget one of the first games of Phil with Frankfurt. He went out on the fast break and dunked. It was a shock to us, because he had never done it in practice’, remembered Quantez Robertson. If the final is between Germany and Canada, then Quantez Robertson will be able to tell so many stories about players from both teams to his friends in front of the tube. But it will be nothing new for his family as they will know the stories.
Tags : QUANTEZ ROBERTSON, WAR READY (AUBURN ALUMNI), GERMAN BASKETBALL
