Daniel Theis of Indiana Pacers looks effective early for Germany in international play
Indiana Pacers center Daniel Theis is playing for Germany this summer in FIBA World Cup play, and the team has started to battle in some international friendlies.
Their first game was on Saturday against Sweden, and the German side had a significant talent advantage. Theis, along with Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner and Toronto Raptors guard Dennis Schroder, are a formidable trio in Germany's opening five, and they rolled through the Swedes.
The final score was 87-68, and Theis finished with 10 points on just three shot attempts. He also had five rebounds, three steals, and a block in the win. It was a solid start to his summer with the squad.
"Closing out a good 1st [Deutschen Basketball Bundes] week with a win," Theis tweeted after the game. "On to the next."
The next game that he was referring to was against Canada, a more formidable opponent. The Canadian squad features several NBA players, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Dillon Brooks, RJ Barrett, and others.
It was a closer game, but Germany still walked away with a victory. They held off Canada in the fourth quarter for an 86-81 win.
Theis contributed more in the scoring department this time as he finished with 17 points. He was knocking down jumpers early, and his decision making on the short roll combined with his bruising style made him a tough cover.
Theis only played in seven games for the Pacers this past season. Injuries and frontcourt depth made it difficult for Indiana to play him more often, though he did prove to be effective in his minutes. Perhaps he could see a larger role in the coming season, depending on how the blue and gold decide to handle their backup center rotation.
The 31-year old has two more seasons remaining on his contract, though the second year contains a team option. He averaged 7.0 points and 3.1 rebounds per game for the Pacers in 2022-23.
Germany next takes the court for a friendly on August 19 when they take on Greece. The following day, they will duel with the United States, and Theis could go against his Pacers teammate Tyrese Haliburton.
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