The Atlanta Hawks have suspended Dennis Schroder for one game after the point guard failed to return to the team on time following the All-Star break.
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Schroder told reporters Friday that he returned to his native Germany for the break but did not have a visa on his new passport. Schroder needed to go to Berlin to obtain a new one, causing him to miss Atlanta’s practices Wednesday and Thursday.
“I replaced my passport and didn’t realize that I had to put my new visa in there,” he said, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “The Hawks organization and the NBA tried to get me as soon as possible a meeting with the consulate. We didn’t make it in time. I’m sorry for me, my teammates and the organization.”
Schroder also posted a photo on his Twitter feed Thursday, showing himself holding his visa.
FINALLY GOT MY VISA & CAN GET BACK TO WORK !!! @fg_pa @atlhawks #iBelieve #DS17 #FG #TeamBros #TheGoldenPatch pic.twitter.com/E5LuFHHTYU
— Dennis Schröder (@DennisMike93) February 24, 2017
The Hawks apparently were not satisfied with Schroder’s explanation for his late return, suspending him for Friday night’s game against the Miami Heat.
“Dennis has played an important role for our team and been a significant contributor to our success this season,” Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said in a statement. “We are disappointed that he did not return to the team on time and we have discussed this with him. We look forward to him rejoining the team in Orlando tomorrow night.”
Budenholzer later said he had “a good conversation” with Schroder and that “we’re all going to be better going forward.”
Schroder, 23, said he was disappointed with the suspension but accepted the team’s decision. The four-year veteran is averaging career highs of 17.5 points and 6.3 assists per game in his first season as Atlanta’s starting point guard.
Malcolm Delaney is making his first career start Friday, replacing Schroder in the lineup against the Heat.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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