Acquired at the trade deadline in what looked on the surface like a salary-cap move, point guard Dennis Schroder proved in his Brooklyn Nets debut Saturday that he could be much more valuable.
In the Nets’ 123-103 win over the San Antonio Spurs, Schroder recorded an outing that rivaled a Hall of Famer. The 11-year NBA veteran became the first player since Allen Iverson in 2006 to post 15 or more points and 10-plus assists coming off the bench in their team debut, per OptaStats.
Only two days ago, Schroder was a member of the Toronto Raptors. Now, he’s the toast of the town in Brooklyn.
For his efforts, the fans at Barclays Center chanted his name and for good reason. Schroder finished with 15 points, shooting 6-of-13 from the field and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc while adding 12 assists and three boards to his stat line.
The performance may have surprised some, considering Schroder had only accomplished the feat four times this season. Yet, Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn said he wasn’t shocked given the veteran’s reputation.
“You’ve seen him play in high-stakes games,” Vaughn told reporters. “The ability to step up in those situations, it’s proven.”
Dealt from the Toronto Raptors on Thursday, Schroder hasn’t had a ton of time to get acclimated to his new reality. However, while he waits for his family to join him in Brooklyn, teammates have picked up the slack, helping him feel at home.
“Everybody in the locker room told me to just be myself and play basketball,” Schroder said. “Coach said the same thing.”