Winner of the Sixers last night, the Magic scored a fifth victory in a row. In the role of boss? Franz Wagner, who once again gave up an XXL performance to wear his own. The German winger is the first reason for Orlando’s great form.
When we learned that Magic franchise player Paolo Banchero would be injured for several weeks, we logically turned to Franz Wagner. The time had come to step-up for the German weighing 224 million dollars. If it was a bit complicated at the beginning, the fault in particular of a stubborn virus, we must admit that Wagner has taken up the challenge brilliantly for around ten days.
Franz Wagner’s last 7 matches
- vs Thunder : 22 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals (loss)
- vs Pacers : 28 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists (loss)
- vs Pelicans : 27 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals (win)
- vs Wizards : 23 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists (win)
- vs Hornets : 32 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals (win)
- vs Pacers : 29 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists (win)
- vs Sixers : 31 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals (win)
Scoring, versatility, and collective success, no doubt it’s German quality.
In the Magic’s current series of five victories, Franz Wagner averages 28.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 6 assists and 1.8 steals, shooting 46.4% including 34.2% from 3-point range. and 90% on free throws. He took command of the attack while participating in Orlando’s magnificent collective effort on the defensive level (five games with a maximum of 94 points conceded!).
Franz Wagner, really strong step up in November.
There are others, Anthony Black too and Tristan Da Silva are nice, but for a guy like Franz who arrived this year with a star contract extension, he plays like one.
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) https://twitter.com/TrashTalk_fr/status/1857581709367067098?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Skeptics of Franz or Magic will say that the opponents of the last ten days were not the most formidable. Certainly, Orlando benefits from a fairly favorable schedule and a series of games at home, but that doesn’t change the fact that Franz is playing like an All-Star, at a time when the Magic need it the most. With a record of eight wins – six losses, Orlando is now third in the East after a complicated start.
“I’m not even surprised anymore. That’s the most impressive thing. I expect him to achieve this sort of thing. It doesn’t do anything for me anymore to see him score 30 points, it’s so normal now.” – Moe Wagner, Magic player and brother of Franz
Without Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner logically has more offensive responsibilities on his shoulders. More responsibilities, but therefore also more attention from opposing defenses. It took a small period of adaptation but Wagner now seems to have taken a further step in his game.
Yesterday against the Sixers, he not only scored 31 points with 11 rebounds and 5 award-winning shots (personal record this season), but he also confirmed his progress in playmaking with six new assists. That’s now 30 assists for only 5 turnovers (!) during the Magic’s five-game winning streak. Impressive figures which show the level of maturity reached by Wagner at the start of the season. Some players lose efficiency and have more waste (logical) when they have the ball in hand more often, but not Franz!
“Seeing defensive coverages over and over again, I know how to counter them. I try to stay aggressive, and I know I can improvise on the pitch. You can’t predetermine everything, some things happen in the flow of the game, and that’s where basketball is the most fun.” – Franz Wagner, after Magic – Sixers
If he continues on this dynamic, with or without Paolo Banchero, it is quite simply towards a first All-Star nomination that Franz Wagner could be heading.
