EuroBasket win could clinch journeyman guard's Hall of Fame case

Schroder was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2025 EuroBasket tournament after his 16 points and 12 assists helped Germany to an 88-83 victory over Turkey in the gold-medal game. For the tournament, Schroder averaged 20.3 points, 7.2 assists and 2.8 rebounds as Germany went 9-0.

This MVP trophy follows Schroder's MVP award at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, also won by Germany. In 2022, he was named to the All-Tournament team as Germany won the bronze medal, their first EuroBasket hardware in 17 years. At the Paris Olympics in 2024, Germany finished fourth while Schroder made the All-Olympics first team dubbed the "All-Star Five," alongside LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama.

The Basketball Hall of Fame values international ball

Schroder has never made an All-Star team in the NBA, but his international career is stellar. That's a huge factor when it comes to the Basketball Hall of Fame, which specifically honors all basketball, not just the NBA.

For example, Dino Radja played only three-and-a-half NBA seasons, but his international career was lengthy and impressive. Radja won two EuroLeague titles, winning Final Four MVP in 1989. He went on to win seven titles in three different European leagues, plus a Greek League Finals MVP and MVP of the Italian League All-Star Game.

Schroder has played most of his professional career in the NBA, joining the Atlanta Hawks before his 20th birthday, months after winning Most Improved Player and Best Young Player in the German Bundesliga. His international heroics haven't always translated to NBA playoffs excellence, though he did average 24.7 points in 2017. Last season, he averaged 12.5 points and shot 47.6% on three-pointers in the Detroit Pistons' first-round loss.

American fans may not care much about European hoops, but it's deeply important to European players. Giannis Antetokounmpo has won an NBA title, but called winning bronze medal with Greece his "greatest accomplishment." That's why, though it may not come in his first season of eligibility, Schroder is very likely to end up in the Hall one day.