Dennis Schroder is making one of the most unique cases for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in recent memory.
Schroder led Germany to EuroBasket glory on Sunday with a victory over Turkey in the final. Along with the gold medal, Schroder claimed the 2025 EuroBasket MVP.
Schroder hit a clutch lefty layup and a pull-up midrange jumper in the final 90 seconds to seal the win. He averaged 21 points and 6.6 assists during the EuroBasket tournament.
Tack on the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup gold medal and MVP, as well as over a decade in the NBA and Schroder’s name has been making the rounds as a possible Hall of Fame inductee. It’s important to remember this is not an NBA Hall of Fame but rather a Basketball Hall of Fame, which opens the door for Schroder.
Six players in basketball history have won both World Cup and EuroBasket MVP. All six of Sergei Belov, Drazen Dalipagic, Drazen Petrovic, Toni Kukoc, Dirk Nowitzki and Pau Gasol are in the Hall of Fame.
“Dennis Schröder’s going to make the Hall of Fame.” @TimBontemps from last week’s Hoop Collective on Dennis Schröder having a real Hall of Fame case after Germany’s Eurobasket win and MVP award.@espn_macmahon | @WindhorstESPN https://t.co/ZFDTH6x0Zm pic.twitter.com/gAAkHsqOyo
— ESPN Podcasts (@espnpodcasts) September 15, 2025
Precedent For Schroder’s Case?
In terms of players with whom he shares similar resumes, Sergei Belov was the first international player to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The Russian was most notable for his accomplishments with European team CSKA Moscow and internationally with former Soviet Union.
In 1991, Belov was named by FIBA as the “Best FIBA Player Ever.” Belov won Olympic gold in 1972, scoring 20 points in a controversial, 51-50 win over USA in the final. He won bronze medals in 1968, 1976 and 1980. Belov also won the World Cup with the Soviet Union in ’67 and ’74 and the EuroBasket in ’67, ’69 (named MVP), ’71 and ’79.
He won the World Cup MVP in ’70 when his team finished third.
Drazen Dalipagic won Olympic gold in ’80 with Yugoslavia as well as silver in ’76 and bronze in ’84. He won one gold at the FIBA World Cup and his four medals at the tournament are tied for the all-time record. He won tournament MVP at the ’78 edition.
Dalipagic also won three golds at EuroBasket (won MVP in ’77) and was voted as one of FIBA’s 50 Greatest Players in 1991.
Drazen Petrovic won the World Cup (MVP in 1986) and EuroBasket (MVP in 1989) once each with Yugoslavia. He narrowly missed out on Olympic gold with silver in ’88. He also had to settle for bronze in ’84.
Petrovic made an All-NBA Third Team in 1993 before tragically passing away in a car accident that June.
Nowitzki and Gasol both have resumes glittered with All-Star and All-NBA selections as well as championships. Kukoc was a premier European talent in the ’90s and has three NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls to show for it.
What Stands In Way Of Schroder’s Hall Of Fame Nod?
Based on the players above, Schroder may not have the same level of individual appeal. However, gold at the World Cup, gold at EuroBasket and accompanying MVP awards in each can’t be ignored. He also made the Olympics All-Star starting five in 2024.
For some icing on the cake, Schroder has over 10,000 points and 4,000 assists in the NBA.
Germany has never won an Olympic medal, which is perhaps the one thing that could seal his place in the Hall of Fame.
From a procedural standpoint, Schroder will become eligible three years after retirement. At 32 and a member of the Sacramento Kings, there’s still some time for that to come to fruition.
There is an international screening committee consisting of seven members and at least five will have to vote in his favor. If that happens, he will advance to the Honors committee, where he will require at least 75 percent of the vote.
At this stage, his international resume not sufficing would be an exception. It’s certainly given him quite the case for basketball immortalization.
