First Berlin, then Munich: Dennis Schröder is on a tour across Germany before things get serious again for him in the NBA. What basketball rules apply in the Schröder universe?
Dennis Schröder has essentially played his way through the world’s major basketball stages. The World Cup final in Manila, the European Championship final in Riga, plus major NBA playoff games from Los Angeles in the West to New York on the East Coast of the U.S. There’s almost nothing left that could be new for the 32-year-old Cleveland Cavaliers pro—yet this Saturday, a first awaits Schröder.
That’s because the captain and his national team teammates Franz Wagner, Andreas Obst, and Isaac Bonga are taking on roles that have been established in soccer for several years now. What Gerard Piqué (Kings League), Mats Hummels (Baller League), and Toni Kroos (Icon League) have been doing for years, Schröder and company now want to establish in basketball.
Their project is called “LGCY” and kicks off this Sunday in front of 2,000 spectators at Berlin’s Uber Eats Music Hall, which is reported to be sold out. The second show follows on August 9 in Munich, with a streetball event taking place next week in Schröder’s hometown of Braunschweig.
What does “LGCY” stand for, and who’s participating?
“LGCY” is short for the English word “legacy.” Schröder, Wagner, Obst, and Bonga have confirmed their participation and will each take the court with their own teams. The organizers released many of the details just shortly before the inaugural event.
Behind the project—which draws inspiration from soccer in some respects—is a founding team led by former basketball official Philipp Dembowski, rapper Jalil Berkholz, and Yoran Henzler, who previously worked for Kroos and the Icon League. The biggest difference from soccer is said to be that the formats don’t focus on former players and amateurs, but on professionals.
Accordingly, “LGCY” is initially designed as a summer break series. Given the packed schedules in 2027 (World Cup in Qatar) and 2028 (Olympics in Los Angeles), it could become more complicated to schedule the events in the coming years. This summer, however, it’s relatively straightforward.
Schröder’s Motivation for the Series
Schröder wants to attract a young audience to his sport. Innovative rules and a stronger connection to music and culture are clear goals for the German basketball ambassador. In an Instagram post, the series shared a photo with the slogan: “Redefining the game. Dennis Schröder breaks the rules.”
Even basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal was persuaded to offer a brief message of support. “The Legacy Series is the future of basketball,” said four-time NBA champion O’Neal, without going into detail. O’Neal is one of the most renowned TV analysts in the U.S.
A complement to the Bundesliga—or competition?
Both the Bundesliga and the German Basketball Federation (DBB) are initially taking a backseat role in these privately organized events. “Fundamentally, it’s clear that the entire basketball ecosystem is growing and thriving. There’s nothing like this in handball. They’re experimenting. I think it’s positive in principle,” Bundesliga boss Stefan Holz told the German Press Agency.
Some aspects that appeal primarily to younger audiences could also be of interest to the BBL. Despite the unexpected successes of Schröder’s national team at the World Cup and European Championships, the Bundesliga continues to struggle to hold its own in the competitive German sports market.
All games are broadcast on the pay-TV channel Dyn. Public broadcasters have the option to air a total of twelve games on their channels. This happened most recently, for example, during the fifth BBL Final between Bayern and Alba, which was shown not only on Bayerischer Rundfunk but also via a livestream on the ARD Mediathek. BBL Managing Director Holz said that “LGCY” is still undecided “whether this is our cup of tea or not.”
The Differences from League Basketball
Games will be played on a digital glass floor, on which additional overlays—such as a four-point spot—can be easily displayed. The playing time is initially set at four five-minute periods—meaning the games will be significantly shorter than in the Bundesliga (four ten-minute periods) or the NBA (four twelve-minute periods).
One thing that remains the same is that the game is played five-on-five. However, there will be fewer breaks and interruptions overall than in club basketball, along with a 20-second shot clock instead of 24 seconds. Additionally, dunks will be worth three points instead of the usual two to make the game more exciting.