Christian Anderson Jr. is heading into his first NBA season with the Charlotte Hornets. The German playmaker will be reunited with two old teammates, Hannes Steinbach and Dennis Schröder. The youngster explained why he ultimately did not join the national team this summer.
This was something even Christian Anderson Jr. hadn’t expected. In mid-August, the Hornets traded for Dennis Schröder, another point guard, meaning Anderson will have to fight all the harder for his place in the Hornets’ rotation. Coby White is likely to be the starter, whilst Schröder will take on the backup role. And Anderson? It remains to be seen whether and where coach Charles Lee will find minutes for him.
Anderson himself, however, views Schröder’s arrival in a positive light. “I’ve been watching Dennis since the days when he played for the Atlanta Hawks,” revealed Anderson, who grew up in Atlanta. His father, however, who was born in Berlin, played in the German second division until 2010 and ensured that Anderson ultimately played for Germany.
It was there that Anderson met Schröder in the summer of 2025, though the youngster was dropped from the squad before the European Championships. “We trained together and that’s how I got to know him much better. He’s incredibly ambitious, but also a great team-mate. I think it’s brilliant that he’s here now,” said Anderson about Schröder, who has had his eye on his potential successor for years.
Anderson explains his absence from the DBB squad
In Charlotte, but perhaps also in the national team, for which Anderson has played twice. This summer, too, an invitation from national coach Alex Mumbru arrived in the post, and the DBB had already announced his participation in the Super Cup. Ultimately, however, Anderson decided to decline.
“I did want to play for the national team and I thought long and hard about it, but I also wanted to stay in Charlotte to get to know my team-mates better and work with the coaches,” said Anderson, explaining his dilemma. “I felt that this was very important. Hopefully I’ll get another chance next year.”
The World Cup in Qatar is then on the agenda. With a good rookie season, the 20-year-old could well earn himself a place in the squad. Plenty of playing time in Charlotte would certainly lay the foundations for that.