Dennis Schroder is returning to the Lakers for the first time since he played for the Lakeshow during the 2020-21 season. Schroder played a pivotal role as a steady point guard, helping the Lakers reach a 21-6 start before the team suffered a string of injuries that led to the then-defending champs losing in the first round of the playoffs against the Phoenix Suns.
Schroder unceremoniously left the franchise shortly after the season but is returning to Los Angeles because he reportedly feels like there is some unfinished business with the Lakers.
“LeBron [James] said he was glad he got me back,” Schroder said via Basketnews. “It’s unfinished business. That year when I was there, there were no fans. There was Covid; everybody was hurt. This year hopefully, everything stays good, everybody stays healthy, and then we’ll try to go for something.”
Schroder also revealed that he and his team had been negotiating his return to the purple and gold for the last three months.
“I’ve been talking to the Lakers for the last three months. I knew I was going back, but I wanted to take my time,” Schroder explained.
Schroder played with the German national team during the FIBA Eurobasket tournament, where he led Germany to a bronze medal finish, its first EuroBasket medal since 2005.
Dennis Schroder was on a mission in #EuroBasket ⚡️
— FIBA (@FIBA) September 19, 2022
22.1 PTS
7.1 AST
2.3 REB
1.1 STL
🇩🇪 Germany’s MVP en route to the bronze medal 🥉 pic.twitter.com/shRbx2g7jJ
Schroder will likely come off the bench behind Russell Westbrook and Patrick Beverly as a pass-first point guard off the pine.
Last season, Schroder averaged 13.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game on 39.3 percent shooting from the field and 32.8 percent from deep while playing for the Celtics and Rockets.
