Basketball great Dennis Schröder regrets rejecting the Lakers’ $84 million deal extension.
The Toronto Raptors point guard has revealed his representation at the time and advised him to turn down the lucrative offer in 2021.
- “And I would have signed it,” Schröder told Yahoo Sports.
- “I would never just leave money on the table.
- “My mom didn’t raise me that way.”
Alex Saratsis of Octagon was representing Schröder at the time. He has since changed his agent to Mark Bartlestein of Priority Sports. A year after rejecting the Lakers offer, he signed a one-year deal with the Boston Celtics for $5.9 million. Schröder then returned to the Lakers in the 2022–23 season for just $2.6 million. He has since made his fortune after securing a two-year, $25.4 million contract with the Raptors before the 2023–24 season. But Schröder remains haunted by the decision to turn down the bumper four-year Lakers deal.
- “It was like my two worst years of my career, and in those two years, I made $8 million,” Schröder said.
- “I had two healthy kids: my mom and my siblings. I can buy anything I want.
- “I had a $70 million contract before. A guy from Germany? From Braunschweig? I’m more than blessed.
- “I’m with the people who love me and were there through the darkest days.”
Schröder is currently averaging 14.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, and a career-high 6.8 assists per game for the Raptors. He describes his move to Toronto as a “good fit.”