Game 4 Preview: Germany VS Great Britain

GB’s next game of the FIBA EuroBasket will see them face reigning world champions Germany in their fourth game of Group B.

The Germans were placed second in FIBA’s official Power Rankings and will prove a tough challenge for GB.

Here is everything you need to know ahead of the 2:30 pm (BST) tip-off on Monday afternoon (1 September).

GB have produced spells of high-level play across all three of their EuroBasket games, but have thus far failed to translate that into victory over 40 minutes.

After suffering defeat to defensive powerhouses Lithuania and then enduring a prolific scoring binge from Finland’s Lauri Markkanen, GB arrived to face Sweden on Saturday, 30 August.

GB enjoyed a positive first half against Sweden, finding success through Luke Nelson on the perimeter and Jubrile Belo on the pick-and-pop.

Captain Carl Wheatle showed off his eye-watering athleticism all game, leaping into the air for huge blocks and then storming down the lane for multiple dunks.

GB’s consistent force, Myles Hesson, was at his best, scoring 17 points on the night, boosted by a strong third quarter.

Unfortunately for GB, Sweden’s quality ball movement and hot three-point shooting proved too much to overcome. Miami Heat guard Pelle Larsson put together a 23-point performance, lifting his nation to victory.

In Germany, GB will find a new kind of challenge. They are the reigning world champions and boast a squad filled with NBA and FIBA star talent.

The Germans have already qualified for the next round of the competition, having won their first three fixtures in Group B.

Jelani Watson-Gayle and Patrick Whelan with some great minutes against Sweden

There is a host of top-level talent across the German squad.

And look no further than the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup TISSOT MVP, Dennis Schroder.

The point guard currently playing his professional ball for the Sacramento Kings in the NBA is one of European basketball’s most effective scorers and combines impressive playmaking capabilities to generate a complete offensive threat.

Since his international debut in 2014, he has averaged 20.2 points and 6.8 assists a game, and has shown no signs of letting up, with a 26-point, six-assist, four-steal masterclass in Germany’s big win against Lithuania on Saturday.

The NBA talent does not stop there, as Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner adds to this stacked German side.

Wagner is averaging 22 points, six rebounds and two steals across Germany’s three wins so far, and provides a threat from all areas on the court.

At 6’10” and 102kgs, he is a physical specimen, but his ability to shift across the floor, scoring inside, and in the mid-range, or distributing to his teammates, makes him a complete offensive threat. He is also an elite defender, having proved as much in his four-year NBA career so far.

Former NBA and current AS Monaco centre Daniel Theis is another to look out for.

Tipped to be competing in the final EuroBasket competition of his career, Theis is simply a winning player. He was the beating heart at the centre of Germany’s World Cup-winning campaign in 2023, and helped his nation finish third at the 2022 EuroBasket.

Despite speculation that his international career might be concluding soon, he is still a quality two-way threat. He scored 23 points against Lithuania on Saturday, making all nine of his field goal attempts, including three threes, and adding six rebounds, a steal, and a block.

It’s been a perfect start for Germany at FIBA EuroBasket this year, as the reigning world champions have won all three of their opening games in Group B.

They produced a 106-point performance in their first game against Montenegro, muting a 23-point double-double by Nikola Vucevic, with 20+ point games from Wagner and Schroder.

This form continued as they scored 105 points against Sweden, with their two stars again leading the way.

Most impressively, they managed to exceed those totals, tallying 107 points against Lithuania’s quality defence while limiting them to 88.

This has ensured the Germans have already qualified for the knockout stages of the competition, before they face GB and then Finland on 3 September.

This will be Germany’s 26th appearance at Europe’s top international competition, qualifying for their 15th in a row.

They won their first and only title in 1993, beating Russia by one point in the finals of the competition they were hosting.

Germany would next finish on the podium in 2005, driven by basketball legend Dirk Nowitzki, where they secured second place.

In the last edition of the EuroBasket, Germany finished third and will be looking to build on that performance, with much of that same squad featuring this summer.

Germany legend Dirk Nowitzki

You can stream GB’s match against Germany live and for free on Courtside 1891 at 2:30 pm (BST) on Monday, 1 September.