Franz Wagner is becoming one of the young faces of German basketball and the Orlando Magic before our eyes, and he knows his development will be crucial to the success of both.
At 21, Wagner was one of the top scorers for the bronze-winning German team at Eurobasket, including a 32-point game against Lithuania. Wagner finished one made free throw away from averaging a 50-40-90 shooting split in the tournament, as noted by colleague Alberto De Roa.
In Orlando, projects as a frontcourt stalwart for the Magic alongside top overall pick Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr. as a playmaking forward who can score off the dribble, defend multiple positions, and play point guard in spurts.
One longtime NBA general manager compared Wagner to fellow German forward Detlef Schrempf, a three-time All-Star and two-time Sixth Man of the Year.
“He’s so big and skilled,” Banchero added. “He’s also really smart. You can trust that he’ll make the right read and the right play. It helps a lot having a guy that size with the right IQ to play the position.”
Before facing the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, Wagner discussed how playing for Germany in Eurobasket has spurred his development, what to expect from the German National Team in the future, his long-term goals, expectations for the Magic, Banchero’s ceiling, and more with HoopsHype.