If they certainly remain stuck in the slums of the Eastern Conference (14th), the players of the Magic remain difficult to maneuver, given the talent that is in the Florida workforce. From Paolo Banchero to Bol Bol, via Wendell Carter Jr. or Jalen Suggs when they are able to play, there are several of them who have been talked about so far. Without forgetting Franz Wagnercertainly the most regular of all.
Quietly, the German is indeed having a very solid second year at Orlando, with 19.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists on average, 50% in shots, 32% in 3-pts and 87% in throws. The collective results (7-20) obviously do not follow, but his individual development is going for the best.
That night, Franz Wagner even set his new scoring season record: 34 points in 32 minutes, 12/15 on shots and 8/8 on throws, in the Magic’s surprising victory over the Raptors! With, as a bonus, the tap that put Jamahl Mosley’s players definitively in control, 26 seconds from the end…
” He just wants to win, nothing else. We’ve been saying it since the start of the season: he’s one of the most competitive guys I know. Add that to his basketball IQ and you get what makes him so special. », incensed him afterwards his coach.
But where exactly does this competitiveness mentioned by the Orlando coach come from, which we had especially been able to see this summer with Germany, during the Eurobasket?
” It’s probably because I’m the little brother and I lost a lot of one-on-ones or playground games. I’ve always hated losing, so I think that’s where it comes from », confided in this regard the main interested party, in a press conference.
Little brother of Moritz Wagner, who is none other than his teammate in Florida (and in the national team of course), Franz never ceases to amaze with the Magic, at the end of a rookie year where he was already very attractive, with his 15.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists on average (47% in shots, 35% in 3-pts and 86% in throws). Statistics which logically earned him a place in the All-Rookie First Team at the end of the campaign.
At only 21 years old, the 8th choice of the 2021 Draft thus seems set to live a great career in the NBA, and more precisely in Orlando, where his teammates are obviously rave about him.
” He showed a variety of ways to score, but he did it in the rhythm of the attack, nothing was forced on his part “, analyzed for example the ghost Markelle Fultz. ” He just played his game and trusted in his work. This is what Franz does. He’s a great player and it’s exciting to be there, by his side, to see him grow. »
| Franz Wagner | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2021-22 | ENT | 79 | 31 | 46.8 | 35.4 | 86.3 | 1.1 | 3.4 | 4.5 | 2.9 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 15.2 |
| 2022-23 | ENT | 26 | 33 | 48.7 | 31.8 | 86.1 | 0.8 | 3.4 | 4.2 | 3.7 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 2.7 | 0.2 | 19.1 |
| Total | 105 | 31 | 47.3 | 34.4 | 86.2 | 1.0 | 3.4 | 4.4 | 3.1 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 16.1 | |
