Former Sacramento Kings guard Dennis Schroder addressed his tenure with the team on the Golden Hoops podcast , highlighting challenges he faced under head coach Doug Christie.
Schroder, who was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers on February 1, said, via HoopsHype, “You should always keep your word, and unfortunately the Sacramento Kings didn’t do that.”
Schroder reflected on his early struggles with Sacramento, noting limited playing time and internal frustrations. “In my second year, I was close to going into the GM’s office and telling them they should trade me, because I wasn’t satisfied with my playing time and with the fact that they had me sitting on the bench,” he said.
The 32-year-old point guard also credited former Lakers head coach Darvin Ham for helping him navigate professional challenges. Ham’s advice, Schroder said, emphasized perseverance: “You have to go through the shit to get to the good.” Schroder described this mindset as central to his 13-year NBA career and international success, including an EuroBasket 2022 bronze and EuroBasket 2025 gold medal and a World Cup gold.
Schroder joined Sacramento in a sign-and-trade deal with the Detroit Pistons on July 7, 2025, marking his tenth team in twelve NBA seasons. During the 2025–26 season with the Kings, he averaged 12.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 5.3 assists over 40 games, including 14 starts. His tenure ended in the February trade that sent him to Cleveland in a three-team deal involving the Chicago Bulls.
With the Cavaliers, Schroder has appeared in 18 games this season, starting twice and averaging 8.6 points and 4.4 assists in 22.7 minutes per game. His move to Cleveland represents a fresh opportunity after a season marked by professional frustration in Sacramento.
Schroder emphasized the importance of maintaining professionalism regardless of circumstances. “No matter what happens, I always stay level. Whether the whole world is talking about me… I just keep my head down and keep doing my thing, working, working, and then eventually success comes,” he said.
