Dennis Schroder to Lead German Delegation at Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony After LeBron James

In a move that follows LeBron James’ honor, Dennis Schroder, former Los Angeles Lakers teammate, will carry the German flag at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games’ opening ceremony.

Just ten months after leading Germany to a triumphant FIBA World Cup 2023 victory, Schroder will step into a prestigious role as the flag bearer. This recognition marks a significant milestone for the 18-year-old star, who previously shone as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Schroder will make history as the first Black athlete to represent Germany with the national flag at the Olympic opening ceremony. The announcement came on the morning of July 24. “I want to express my deepest thanks to everyone who chose me for this honor. I am incredibly grateful,” Schroder stated.

“To be the first Black athlete to carry the German flag at the Olympics is an immense honor. Words cannot capture how I feel. I promise to carry the flag with the highest level of respect and pride.”

Schroder joins an elite group of athletes leading their countries’ delegations, becoming the second basketball player to be chosen for this role at the 2024 Olympics. LeBron James, the superstar from the United States, will carry his country’s flag on July 22.

Selected by his peers, Schroder outpaced other prominent contenders such as Alexander Zverev, the Tokyo Olympic gold medalist in tennis, and shooting sports champion Christian Reitz.

Beyond his NBA career, Schroder has captained the German national basketball team for the past three years, competing in top European (FIBA EuroBasket) and global tournaments. His leadership was instrumental in Germany’s historic FIBA World Cup 2023 victory, earning him the tournament’s MVP award.

As he prepares for Paris 2024, Schroder aims to elevate Germany’s performance in basketball. Historically, Germany’s best Olympic result was 7th place in 1992. At Tokyo 2021, the team progressed from the group stage by virtue of a top-three placement, but fell to Slovenia 94–70 in the quarterfinals, finishing 8th.