Schröder reveals ’emotional’ reason he will wear No. 71 as Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – Before Dennis Schröder was a 12-year NBA veteran and international inspiration, he was a 16-year-old boy who was lost and unsure of where his life would take him.
The year was 2009. Like almost every teenage boy, he turned to his father, Axel, who, like him, wanted his son to pursue a career in basketball.
However, the younger Schröder had other interests growing up in Braunschweig, Germany, such as skateboarding and soccer. It wasn’t until later in life that he really became interested in basketball.
But one conversation with his father changed everything.
Axel played professional basketball in Gambia, where he met his wife and Dennis’ mother, Fatou Schröder. But Axel wanted – and knew – for his son to take his game to the next level in the biggest basketball league in the world.
“I mean, he was more of a supporter,” Schröder said of his father Tuesday during his introductory press conference after being traded to the Warriors. “He didn’t really, really play. But he was my biggest supporter every time I practiced, whenever I had a game, he came and we always talked about basketball.
“He always said, ‘This is what you can do for a living. You can help your whole family, bear the burden for your family and make sure everyone is doing well.’ And he was right. After that conversation he passed away – six days later – and that’s when everything changed for me.
“The goal was to play in the NBA, and I still do that. My 12th season now, and [I’m] I’m beyond grateful to be here and don’t take it for granted, every day, every match, I go out there and treat it like it’s my last. So it’s great to do that for him.”
After his father’s death, Schröder wasted no time in following his late father’s advice.
He started playing professional basketball for SG Braunschweig in 2010, averaging 7.8 points, 2.1 assists and 1.6 rebounds per game in his first year. The following season he flourished, averaging 17.8 points and 6.7 assists in 23 games.
His team went to the playoffs, where he averaged 18.8 points and 5.1 assists over four games.
After another solid season the following year, he was named the Basketball Bundesliga’s Most Improved Player and the league’s Best Young German Player. He then declared his candidacy for the 2013 NBA Draft.
On June 27, 2013, Schröder was selected No. 17 overall by the Atlanta Hawks.
Being the 17th overall pick was special for him for reasons that aren’t obvious. The song had a sentimental meaning to him; it also happened to be his father’s favorite song.
So of course, Schröder had to wear No. 17 on his jersey in his NBA debut with the Hawks — and, with the exception of one organization, at every destination afterward.
He has worn those one and seven on his chest with the Hawks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets.
During his brief tenure with the Boston Celtics, he was unable to wear No. 17 as it was retired in honor of the late, great John Havlicek. Schröder improvised and chose No. 71 instead.
In his new home with the Warriors, he finds himself in a similar situation.
The number 17 was, of course, retired by Hall of Fame legend Chris Mullin. Schröder understands and is okay with simply swapping the numbers. The last Warriors player to wear No. 71 was McCoy McLemore in 1965.
Although 17 and 71 are 54 numbers apart, in Schröder’s eyes they are one and the same.
“Yes, I have to stay loyal to them,” said Schröder. “That was my father’s favorite song. Seventeen is emotional for me. To wear it every night. I was also the 17th pick, so yeah, I’ll just have to stick with it.
Although Axel could not see who his son has become and continues to be as a man, husband, father and teammate, there is no doubt that Axel’s impact fueled his ambition to become a basketball icon on the world stage.
And the conversation he had with his father as a 16-year-old boy will be one he will never forget as a 31-year-old man and beyond as he continues to embrace and honor his father’s legacy.
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