Unless you’re a fan of the Orlando Magic (and, right now, we can’t blame you if you aren’t) there is a chance that you haven’t heard of Franz Wagner.
The rookie small forward is making waves with the Magic, even though the team is struggling at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
In his first season, Wagner has shown he has a lot of talent and a lot of potential.
You might not have been watching a lot of Magic games this season but he should totally be on your radar.
Making Magic In Orlando
Wagner is a native of Berlin and started playing basketball with Basketball Bundesliga before being named BBL Best German Young Player.
After playing in his native Germany, Wagner moved to the states and started playing for Michigan under head coach Juwan Howard.
In 2021, he was chosen as the eighth pick in the 2021 NBA Draft by the Magic.
Wagner got off to a great start in Orlando, putting up 12 points in his first game.
In fact, during his first month in Orlando, Wagner never scored fewer than double-digits.
Double-digits are all Wagner sees now – he is consistently putting up impressive numbers.
It’s no surprise that he was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month.
Currently, Wagner has an average of 15.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists a game.
And it’s become very apparent that Wagner is just getting better as time goes on.
This was made clear on December 28, when Wagner scored 38 points against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Yes, the Magic still lost that game but it was a major moment for Wagner and one of the most amazing games for any rookie this season.
Room For Improvement
Wagner is great and better than he was only a few months ago and that shows that he’s growing – and that growth shows no sign of stopping.
In fact, one of the most remarkable things about Wagner is his promise.
Right now, he is best known for using his size to cut to the basket and drive to the hole.
He is terrific at creating space for himself and is getting better and better at finding a way to the rim.
However, currently, he’s relying a lot on his teammates for these plays, an area he can improve.
As he gets more experience and more confidence, you can expect to see Wagner creating more of his own plays without turning to his peers to set up the shots.
He is also getting better at shooting.
Remarkably, he is pretty good at the three-point shot – especially for his size.
Right now, he’s got a three-point percentage of 37 percent.
Like all parts of his game, Wagner’s confidence from beyond the arch is growing and you can see him taking – and landing – more daring shots.
This is a scary thought to the rest of the NBA because if a guy of Wagner’s size is able to defend and nail some killer three-pointers, he will be incredibly dangerous.
Wagner might not win Rookie of The Year and he might be playing on a team that’s a bit hopeless right now but it’s obvious that his future in the NBA is very bright.
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