Ghost of Raptors' past might've just sealed an undeniable Hall of Fame case

I usually lose track of time pretty easily, and it's certainly no different when it comes to sports. Sometimes it feels like something just happened yesterday, but at the same time, it also feels like ages ago.

Not too long ago, during the 2023 offseason, the Toronto Raptors were looking to fill the gap left by Fred VanVleet’s departure in free agency. They decided to bring in seasoned veteran and German star Dennis Schroder to help strengthen their point guard spot. At the same time, Schroder was leading Germany in the 2023 FIBA World Cup (I actually got to see it in person while on vacation in the Philippines). Germany ended up winning the final against Serbia, and Schroder took home the MVP award.

Building on his strong international play, I was really optimistic about Schroder when he joined the Raptors, especially with Darko Rajakovic set to be the new head coach also. At the very least, I thought some of that shine from his recent success might carry over in Toronto.

There were definitely moments where Schroder stood out — he was easily the highlight of Toronto's 2023 season opener and looked like a solid option as the new starting point guard. But at the same time, he also had some reckless plays, seemed a bit frustrated playing behind guys like Scottie Barnes, and didn’t quite establish himself as a consistent starter. In the end, his time in Toronto wrapped up abruptly when he was salary dumped to Brooklyn at the 2024 trade deadline.

If there's one thing to highlight about Schroder’s career, it’s that, despite an up-and-down NBA journey and that underwhelming stint in Toronto, he’s put together one of the most impressive international resumes in recent years. And honestly, that global reputation might just be enough for him to make it into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame based on his international accolades alone — even if his NBA career hasn’t been filled with All-Star berths or super noteworthy highlights. Though, to be fair, 13 NBA seasons going strong is still a solid run.

Leading Germany to another international victory and taking home the gold as EuroBasket 2025 champions, Dennis Schroder added another MVP trophy to his collection. It’s clear he’s a true leader for his national team, and his stats really back that up. Say what you want about his role in the NBA, but when Schroder is with Germany, you can see a different, even more intense version of him on the court. Maybe it's that pride in representing your home country or the bond they've built together, but whatever it is, Schroder definitely proves he's the real deal.

Dennis Schroder's international impact could land him in the Hall of Fame

Talking about Schroder potentially making the Hall of Fame, ESPN's Tim Bontemps said in a podcast before the EuroBasket final that if Germany wins the tournament, "he's going to make the Hall of Fame eventually as an international entry." Bontemps would double down on the claim with a follow-up post to X, where he provided context behind his statement:

Like Bontemps mentions, calling Dennis Schroder a future Hall of Famer might make some people go "berserk." To the average basketball fan, he's just a role player and nothing more. But the casual fan might underestimate the impact Schroder has made internationally — his contributions there could really cement his eternal place in basketball history once his career is all said and done.