Dennis Schroder hasn’t been in Cleveland long, but he’s already making waves-and not just with his play on the court. In just two games with the Cavaliers, the veteran guard has brought a noticeable edge to a team that’s already trending upward. And if his early comments are any indication, he’s found a home that fits his mindset.
In his first game with the Cavs following the trade, Schroder helped lead a suffocating defensive effort that held the Los Angeles Clippers to just 46 points in the first half. Cleveland cruised to a blowout win, but it was the defensive intensity that caught Schroder’s attention.
“Impressive win. Great group of guys,” Schroder said after the game. “Under 50 points at half, I don't think we had that in Sac for a long time.”
That’s not a shot-it’s a reality check. Schroder came over from a Kings team that’s been struggling to find its rhythm this season. And while he was only in Sacramento for a couple of months, the contrast between that experience and what he’s walked into in Cleveland couldn’t be more stark.
“Really competitive group who wants to play defense, and then share the ball on offense, wants to play fast,” he added. “I love it. I feel comfortable already.”
Six days later, after his home debut in a 138-113 win over the Wizards, Schroder doubled down on his praise for the Cavaliers. The chemistry, he said, is already palpable-even without much time to practice together. That’s saying something, especially for a midseason addition trying to find his role on a team with playoff ambitions.
“It was a rough two months for me beginning of the season,” Schroder admitted. “But being a part of Cleveland's organization has been great, and we didn't even practice yet. But the chemistry-you can tell-is on a high notch, and we just want to keep it going.”
The Cavs are 34-21 and climbing. They’ve won with defense, ball movement, and a team-first mentality that’s become their identity.
For Schroder, it’s a welcome change. He’s gone from a team at the bottom of the standings to one that’s pushing for a deep playoff run-and he’s embracing the shift.
“I'm a winner. I try to win,” he said.
“It's tough when it's not going your way. You try to work hard every single day, and you're not getting over the hump, you're not winning games.
It was so tough for me waking up, going to practice because it wasn't really the focus.”
That’s a raw, honest take from a player who’s been around the league long enough to know when something’s working-and when it’s not. Schroder didn’t shy away from acknowledging that things weren’t clicking in Sacramento, but he also made it clear he’s grateful for the opportunity they gave him.
“Really appreciate Sac as well because they gave me a big contract to have security for my family,” he said. “I appreciate [Kings general manager] Scott [Perry], [assistant GM] BJ [Armstrong]. But at the end of the day, to be on this side now, where you play every single game to win, that excites me every single day.”
That excitement is showing up on the court. Schroder’s already bringing his trademark defensive grit and quickness to the Cavaliers’ backcourt. He’s not just fitting in-he’s helping to elevate what’s already been one of the league’s most dangerous teams since the calendar flipped.
“The dog mentality,” Schroder said. “I think we've got high character guys in this locker room, but if we turn it up there-I think on the defensive side of the ball especially-I think we can do a lot of big things here. I'm looking forward to that.”
So are the Cavs. With Schroder now in the mix, Cleveland has added another layer of toughness and experience to a roster that’s already locked in on making noise this postseason.
The fit? It looks seamless.
The timing? Couldn’t be better.
And if Schroder keeps playing-and speaking-with this kind of fire, the Cavs just might have found a key piece for their playoff push.