Dennis Schroder is a German professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a point guard. In the absence of star players like LeBron, D’Angelo, and Davis, Schroder is entrusted to lead the team.
Brought in 2013 as a mystery player from overseas, he has been a part of six different NBA clubs since his NBA debut. His most time with a single team is with the Atlanta Hawks, where he played for five seasons.
Playing at point guard requires an amazing ability to control the ball and ensure the ball reaches accurately to his teammates during the game.
Schroder exhibits control over the ball and is known for his aggressive gameplay.
Starting initially from SG Braunschweig, he has made a tremendous leap from the second-tier German league to the NBA.
In his early years, Dennis was an average player. But over the past years, he has shocked almost everyone with his much-improved gameplay.
However, the point guard has never had the opportunity to become an NBA champion in his professional career so far.
Apart from being a player, he owns his German hometown club Braunschweig which participates in Basketball Bundesliga (BBL), the country’s top-level professional basketball league.
This article below will explore more about Dennis Schroder’s life, career, wife, kids, and net worth.
But before moving into that, here are some quick facts that you might find interesting to discover.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Dennis Schroder |
| Date of Birth | September 15, 1993 |
| Birth Place | Braunschweig, Germany |
| Nick Name | The Menace |
| Religion | Islam |
| Nationality | German |
| Ethnicity | German-Gambian/Mixed |
| Zodiac Sign | Virgo |
| Age | 30 years old |
| Height | 6’1″/1.85 m/185 cm |
| Weight | 78 kg/172 lb. |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Build | Athletic |
| Father’s Name | Axel Schroder |
| Mother’s Name | Fatou Schroder |
| Siblings | A brother and a younger sister |
| Sibling’s Name | Cheyassin Secka (brother), Sister’s name unknown |
| Education | Not available |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Ellen Ziolo (m 2019) |
| Kids | 3 (Two sons and a daughter) |
| Kid’s Name | Dennis Schroder (Son), Imalia Aaliyah (Daughter) |
| Profession | Professional basketball player |
| Favorite Dish | Chicken Alfredo |
| NBA Draft | 2013/ Round 1/ Pick 17th overall |
| Position | Point guard |
| League |
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| Active Years | (2010–present) |
| Teams |
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| Net Worth | $38.7 million |
| Currently Plays For | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Career Highlights & Awards |
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| Social Media | |
| Merch of Boston Celtics | Rookie Cards |
| Last Update | April 2024 |
Early Life, Family & Education
Dennis Alfredo was born in Braunschweig, Germany, to Fatou and Axel Schroder, on September 15, 1993. His mother, Fatou, was from Gambia, Africa.
Schroder mostly roamed around in the city and nearby parks as a child. He grew up playing soccer and skateboarding. Coming from a country where basketball is unpopular, he only became acquainted with basketball at 11.
Around the same time, Liviu Calin, the head coach of the German National Basketball Team, introduced a youth program to attract young talents.
Fortunately, the coach had an eye on him. Not because he knew the sport but he had an athletic physique. Schroder hopped in but was not initially interested in learning the game.
However, after his father died in 2009, Dennis changed his mind. He decided to make a career in basketball. As a result, he began to show up regularly in the training sessions.
Moreover, he has a brother and a younger sister.
Professional Career
German League
Dennis began his professional career in 2010. He debuted in the second-tier German league from Phantoms Braunschweig’s farm team, SG Braunschweig.
In his first season with the team, Schroder struggled to perform. However, he improved by averaging 17.8 points and 6.7 assists over 23 regular games in the second season.
The point guard led his team to the playoffs, where he averaged 18.8 points and 5.1 assists in 4 games.
He also played 30 games for Phantoms Braunschweig in the same season averaging 2.3 points and 0.8 rebounds in 8 minutes per game.
In the 2012-13 season, his last German League season, Dennis displayed his career-best performance averaging 12 points, 3.2 assists, and 2.5 rebounds in 25 minutes per game.
NBA Career
The Atlanta Hawks drafted Dennis Schroder with the 17th overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft on June 27, 2013. The German player officially signed with the Hawks on July 11.
However, Schroder could not get enough playing time, with Shelvin Mack replacing him as the second-string point guard. Soon after, he went with Bakersfield Jam to play in the NBA Development League.
In his rookie season with the Hawks, he played just 49 games scoring 3.7 points in 13.1 minutes per game.
Schroder played for the Hawks until the 2018 season, making numerous records, including his career-high 41 points in a 99-94 win over the Utah Jazz on March 20, 2018.
He joined Oklahoma City Thunder in 2018. After spending two seasons as the sixth man in the City Thunder, he transferred to the Los Angeles Lakers.
On December 22, 2020, he debuted the Lakers against the Loss Angeles Clippers. Unfortunately, they lost the match though he scored 14 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists.
During his time with the Lakers, due to his inconsistent performance, Schroder missed many games. Moreover, he rejected the club’s offer of $84 million for four years contract extension, further upsetting them.
On August 13, 2021, he signed a one-year contract with Boston Celtics as a free agent for the new NBA season.
With the Celtics, the NBA player wore the number 71 jersey as his usual number 17 jersey had been retired in honor of John Havlicek.
On February 10, 2022, the German player was traded to Houston Rockets. However, he was ruled out for the remaining season with a shoulder injury.
The point guard returned for his second stint with the Lakers and signed a one-year deal despite offers from the Toronto Raptors and Phoenix Suns.
Dennis guided the depleted Lakers to a crucial win over Thunder on March 1, 2023, scoring 26 points, 2 rebounds, and 6 assists.
National Career
Dennis Schroder has played for the German national team under-18 and represented German under-20 teams.
Schroder also played in the 2012 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship and finished fifth, averaging 6.1 points, 2 assists, and 1.8 rebounds.
The Lakers point guard made his debut for the senior German national basketball team against Finland on July 27, 2014.
Schroder played at EuroBasket 2015 and EuroBasket 2017, and led Germany to third place at the EuroBasket 2022.
He averaged team-high 22.1 points and 7.1 assists per game and was named to the EuroBasket All-Tournament Team.
Age, Weight & Height
As of 2024, the NBA player is 30 years of age.
Dennis Schroder has had an impressive performance in the NBA; even LeBron James praised him for his plays.
James went on to call him “Dennis the Menace” in an interview in 2021.
The Muslim basketball player is tall and athletic and follows a non-vegetarian diet.
He stands at 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 meters) and weighs around 78 kg (172 pounds).
Wife & Kids
Dennis Schroder married his girlfriend, Ellen Ziolo, on July 20, 2019. They had known each other since their high school days. However, they began dating in 2017 and eventually decided to get married.
The 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 meters) tall WAG was born on December 10, 1991.
The couple, at present, has three kids together. Ellen gave birth to a baby boy before their marriage on February 19, 2019. They have named him Dennis Schroder Jr.
Their second child, a daughter, Imalia Aaliyah, was born in August 2020. In December 2022, the Schroder family welcomed another son, whose name is yet to be disclosed.
Net Worth, Salary & Career Earnings
According to various sources, one of the most celebrated foreign players among American NBA fans, has an estimated net worth of around $38.7 million as of 2024.
The point guard mostly makes his earnings through his professional basketball career. With the Lakers, he makes around $2.6 million annually.
During his prime around the 2020-21 season, his maximum annual salary with the Lakers in the 2020-21 season which was around $15.5 million.
Boston Celtics signed him on a one-year contract of $5.9 million on August 13, 2021, promising him a good salary.
In his five different seasons with the Hawks, he had received different amounts increasing over the years. In his first season, he received about $1.3 million. The club offered him close to $1.7 million for his second and third seasons.
He was paid the highest sum of $2.7 million in his fourth season. However, in his fifth season, he was offered around $15.5 million in salary.
With the City Thunders, he earned $15.5 million in his first year and $14.5 million in his second year.
The point guard’s total career earnings amount to around $77.5 million. However, there is no reliable information regarding his salary during his career in the German league.
Apart from his career earnings, the player earned well through his merch sales.
Awards & Achievements
Although it has been over a decade since he started playing professional and national level basketball, unfortunately, he has not successfully delivered any trophy or league title for his teams.
However, he has achieved quite a lot as an individual, especially as someone from a culture where basketball is considered foreign. Here are his few achievements:
- BBL Most Improved Player
- BBL Best German Young Player
- Bronze in Euro Basket 2022
Social Media Presence
Even though Dennis is very fond of frequently appearing on media outlets and covers, he is not so active on social media. Although, he makes some family time posts and games pictures every now and then.
He posts video clips and photos, mainly associated with his team, family members, vacations, and photoshoots.
Schroder is available on Instagram under the handle @ds17_fg.
Instagram: 2.2m followers
Popularity
Starting in the German league and playing in the NBA since 2013, Dennis has come a long way and gained a lot of fans along the journey.
The above graph gives brief information about the popularity of Dennis Schroder based on Google searches in the United States over a year.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Dennis Schroder hair a birthmark?
No, Dennis Schroder's hair is not a birthmark. His mother, Fatou Schroder, suggested that he dye a blonde spot in his hair near the left temple to stand out. He did it upon leaving Germany for the United States.
What number does Dennis Schroder wear?
With the Lakers, he wears the number 17 jersey. However, previously with the Boston Celtics, Dennis Schroder wore 71. He wanted to wear his old number 17, but unfortunately, the Celtics had already retired that number. So, Dennis decided to let fans choose what number he should wear with the Celtics. Eventually, his fans chose number 71. With this, he became the only fourth player in the history of the NBA to wear this number.
How did the Lakers get Dennis Schroder?
The Los Angeles Lakers acquired Dennis from the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Danny Green and the draft rights to Jaden McDaniels in the 2020-21 season.
