Tag: Moe Wagner

Moe Wagner used to ‘bully’ brother Franz on the court growing up

Moe commended his little brother for his transition to the Magic, just before reminding everyone how he would dominate him growing up.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Moe and Franz Wagner never played on the same team together growing up but that all changed this summer after a couple of moves by the Orlando Magic.

Moe joined the Magic at the tail end of last season, averaging 11 points and 4.9 rebounds in 11 appearances. He re-signed with the Magic on Aug. 23 on a one-year deal and projects to play an integral role this season in the frontcourt.

Of course, Orlando selected Franz with the eighth overall pick in the NBA draft after a stellar season at Michigan. The opportunity to play with his older brother has only helped with the transition to the NBA, something Moe said he is handling well.

He is doing really good, I think. He is a very smart guy. (I’m in) a difficult position because I’m not his dad, I’m one of his teammates. We talk about basketball but we also spend a lot of time off of the floor together. I’m trying to separate the family and professional life a little bit. I think he is doing great.

The chance to play together is a first for the two. Prior to this season, they would only face each other on the court in the park but never on the same team. They are spending plenty of time just trying to figure each other out so far.

Franz gave up the No. 21 to accommodate Moe when he re-signed with the team. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

The situation in Orlando allowed Moe to reflect a bit on all of those times he played Franz growing up. He even hilariously remembered how he would dominate Franz when he was younger.

I used to bust his ass, excuse my language. I bullied him plenty of times when we were little but those times are over, unfortunately. As soon as he hit a certain age, those times were over quick. Of course, we grew up playing together, against each other but organized or professional, I’ve never played with him.

While the two certainly have enjoyed sharing the court together, they also understand basketball shouldn’t dominate every day. They talk about much more than just basketball, and often try not to judge each other’s performances.

As for those performances on the court, Moe is averaging 11.5 points and three rebounds through the first two preseason games while Franz has totaled three points and four rebounds in 40 minutes.

Orlando returns to play on Sunday versus the San Antonio Spurs.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Magic rookie Franz Wagner to change jersey number for brother Moe

Franz Wagner will change his jersey number for next season to accommodate the re-signing of his brother, Moritz.

Orlando Magic rookie Franz Wagner will change his jersey number from 21 to 22 for the 2021-22 season to accommodate the re-signing of his brother, Moritz.

Moritz wore No. 21 in 11 games with the Magic last season after signing on April 27. Franz initially chose to wear the number 21 during the Las Vegas Summer League but will now change it after the Magic announced on Monday that they re-signed Moe.

The contract signed by Moe is reportedly two years in length.

Moe also wore No. 21 at his other two stops last season with the Washington Wizards and Boston Celtics. He wore No. 13 in college at Michigan while Franz donned 21 during his two seasons with the Wolverines.

The two Wagner brothers will now get a chance to play with each other next season with Moe re-signing on Monday. Moe wasn’t in Orlando very long last season but can still help Moe with the transition to the team given his prior knowledge of the playbook.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Moe Wagner gets under Duncan Robinson’s skin in recent NBA matchup

The two former roommates and teammates got after each other on the court as the Heat and Wizards played on Sunday night.

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Just because both Duncan Robinson and Moe Wagner wore the maize and blue together and once lived together in Ann Arbor doesn’t mean everything is going to be pleasant on the court between the two of them.

The former Michigan roommates faced off against one another on Sunday night, with the Miami Heat besting the Washington Wizards, 100-89. But down the stretch, things got a little testy between the two former Wolverines, according to NBC Sports Washington.

Duncan Robinson was called for an offensive foul, causing his old Michigan teammate Moe Wagner to come over and let him know about it. Robinson responded with a shove and the two were each assessed a technical foul.

“That’s my best friend, man,” Robinson said. “If anyone knows how to get under my skin it’s him. Credit to him, he did just that.”

Wagner’s made a reputation for himself over his first two seasons in the NBA as an instigator. He’s always active on both ends and isn’t afraid to sell a bit of contact to get his team an extra possession.

Robinson knows this after playing three seasons and living with Wagner at Michigan from 2015-18, but he just couldn’t help himself. There obviously weren’t any hard feelings between the two, but Robinson made it clear he wasn’t paying the fine.

“My first technical of my career, I’m going to invoice him for this $2,500 for sure if I don’t get it back from the league,” he said. “But that’s just two brothers messing around.”

Regardless, while the blood boiled a bit during the game, naturally, the two former teammates and roommates will continue to be good friends.

Moe Wagner returns home to cheer on Franz, Wolverines

Moe Wagner returned to Ann Arbor to watch his younger brother, Franz, and his alma mater battle Indiana at the Crisler Center on Sunday.

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The John Beilein era of Michigan basketball produced several fan favorite players over the course of 12 years.

Manny Harris, Zack Novak, Trey Burke, Tim Hardaway Jr., Nick Stauskas and other names of prominence from that era will resonate within this program forever.

But you’d be hard-pressed to find a player more universally loved by the Wolverine faithful than Moritz Wagner, better known as “Moe”.

After being drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018 and spending his rookie season on the West Coast, Wagner was traded to the Washington Wizards for the 2019-20 season.

As one of the Wizards’ primary players off the bench, Wagner has improved greatly upon his rookie season with the Lakers, and is currently averaging 11.3 points — on nearly 60 percent shooting — and 5.7 rebounds per game.

But with the NBA All-Star Break in effect this weekend, Wagner had the opportunity to return to Ann Arbor to take in his alma mater’s game against the Indiana Hoosiers, and, of course, see his younger brother and rising Wolverine star, Franz.

When Moe’s image appeared on the jumbotron inside the Crisler Center, the capacity crowd let out what was perhaps the largest roar of the day during the Wolverines’ 89-65 win over the Hoosiers.

“I heard a little bit,” Franz said of the cheers that greeted his older brother. “Great to see that he is still so welcome here. People like him here. Very cool to see that.”

Franz gave the home crowd something to cheer about as well, as he poured in a team-high 16 points on an efficient 7-of-11 shooting performance. The younger Wagner also grabbed 8 rebounds, nearing a double-double before fouling out with just under five minutes left to play.

Franz knocked down a pair of three-point baskets during the game, and heard from his brother after one triple went down early in the second half.

“It’s about damn time you hit one!” Moe chirped at his younger brother.

“At first I didn’t really know who said it,” Franz said with a smile. “But I saw him and chirped something back.”

Trash talk may be commonplace between the two brothers, but Franz was pleased to get the opportunity to interact with Moe.

“Very cool,” Franz said. “Obviously, I haven’t seen him too much with his schedule and mine. Just good to have him here and spend a little time with him.”

Moe was joined in his return by former Michigan point guard Derrick Walton Jr., and a plethora of other Wolverine basketball alumni as the university celebrated an “Alumni Appreciation” day.

The two standouts of the Beilein era met with the team — Team 104, the first of the Juwan Howard era — following the victory.

“They just came in [and] congratulated everybody,” Franz said. “It’s always great to have former players come back that made it to the league (NBA). I think it’s good motivation for everybody to see them come back, seeing how connected they still are to this program.”