Being tagged as a journeyman in the NBA carries a negative connotation for most players, especially when teams cut them from the roster.
However, Dennis Schroder has redefined the role because of his unique career. Although he has played for 11 different teams, Schroder has shown consistent production through his versatile skill set.
Since being selected by the Atlanta Hawks as the 17th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, Schroder has suited up for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Detroit Pistons, Sacramento Kings and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Most recently, he was traded to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Tre Mann, marking his 12th NBA team in 13 seasons.
On the surface, Schroder’s constant movement from team to team may have given him a bad reputation and diminished his value.
However, if we look more closely, this is just a statement of how valuable he is to most teams in the league as he can easily adjust to any roster or system.
The 6-foot-1 guard is averaging 10.8 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.9 assists in his career across 912 games. These numbers are solid for a player who has played for over 10 teams, delivering consistent production. It’s also a solid testament to Schroder’s versatility in playing for contending teams, rebuilding teams and star-studded rosters, making him a rare and underappreciated commodity.
His two best seasons are in 2017, when he had his best scoring average with the Hawks at 19.4 points, and in 2020, when he was the runner-up for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award with the Thunder.
Schroder’s style of play has been universal. A point guard with a quick first step who attacks the paint aggressively and has solid shooting and high-level playmaking. He can also take up big roles on the offensive end when needed or complement the star power around him.
Players like Schroder are useful to most teams because of his energy, versatility and two-way play, and he checks all the boxes in these categories.
The German national team player also made a bold move in 2021 when he turned down a four-year, $84 million contract extension with the Lakers. Instead, he took a smaller, short-term contract and never got the opportunity to have that kind of deal again.
At the time, it appeared to be a big blunder. However, it can be considered a blessing in disguise as he avoided being locked into a large deal that could have limited his flexibility and availability. Additionally, it allowed Schroder to accumulate more career earnings long-term through successive deals while building his status as a plug-and-play guard.
Schroder’s NBA journey is unique because he redefined the term “journeyman” through his adaptable and reliable on-court skills. He’s the new prototype of a modern valuable player that many may learn from if they want to stay relevant and valuable in the league.
