NBA – Before finding them, Schröder’s guilty admission about the Lakers: “I would never have…

NBA players Dennis Schröder (left) and LeBron James

Now a Raptors player, Dennis Schröder previously spent two seasons in the ranks of the Lakers, whom he faced this Tuesday in Los Angeles. The opportunity for him to look back on a significant and somewhat shameful moment of his time there.

Without a doubt, he must have checked this date of Tuesday January 9 on his calendar. Dennis Schröder must indeed have been impatiently awaiting the clash between the Raptors and the Lakers, scheduled for the last few hours. After all, part of his career was written in Los Angeles, on the floor of the Crypto.com Arena. Unfortunately for him and his current team, this reunion did not result in a victory.

Dennis Schröder honest about his memorable Lakers rejection
Despite the more than commendable efforts of Darko Rajakovic’s men, Toronto had to lose at the end of a suspenseful encounter (131-132). Author of 10 points and 6 assists, Schröder for his part did everything to prevent this scenario, notably scoring a 3-point shot 4 seconds from the final buzzer. No doubt disappointed, he can however be satisfied with having been able to greet his former coaches and teammates:

Dennis Schroder is back in LA greeting some familiar faces. pic.twitter.com/WJXwhMorXY

— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) January 10, 2024

All smiles when seeing these familiar faces again, the German leader must nevertheless have bad memories of his time with the Angelinos. In 2021, he refused a contract offer of $84 million, before having to settle for a minimum salary thereafter. Recently questioned on this subject by Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, he however placed the blame… on his agent at the time:

If it had been up to me, I would have signed it. I would never have left that much money on the table. My mom didn’t raise me that way.

At the time represented by Alex Saratsis of Octagon, Schröder has since joined the clientele of Mark Bartlestein and Priority Sports. A decision undoubtedly due to this refusal which still haunts him today. However, he seems to have been able to take a step back following this very costly event:

I’m coming off the worst two years of my career, and over those two years, I made $8M. But I also had two healthy children, my mother, my brothers and sisters… I could buy everything I wanted thanks to my previous contract of $70M. For a guy who comes from Germany, from Braunschweig, I am beyond blessed. I am with the people who love me and who have stayed with me during this time.

Once the subject of an offer of 84 million dollars from the Lakers, Dennis Schröder would then have been the victim of a more than questionable choice from his agent. Fortunately, today he can still be satisfied with the lifestyle he leads in the NBA.