With the Orlando Magic bereft of much veteran talent, still missing injured key cogs Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac, and breaking in a rookie coach in Jamahl Mosley, expectations were understandably low coming into the season. However, surprising rookie Franz Wagner has provided a bit of much-needed hope for a franchise that has run thin on it for much of the past decade.
Rest assured, the Magic are still doing plenty of losing this season, heading into Thursday’s home game against the Milwaukee Bucks at 7-28 and in possession of the NBA’s second-worst record. But it’s been Wagner — the unheralded No. 8 pick from last summer’s NBA Draft — who has made the losing somewhat tolerable with his under-control style of play and his uncanny ability to always make the right play.
All of those qualities were on display on Tuesday night when the 6-foot-10, 220-pound “little brother” of fellow Magic forward Moritz Wagner pummeled the World Champion Bucks for a career-best 38 points. The performance was electrifying in how Wagner pulled it off, namely by fiercely attacking superstar big man Giannis Antetokounmpo at the rim. Not once, but twice did the German unveil nifty “Euro-step” moves to free himself from Antetokounmpo and convert from point-blank range.
“It’s just his determination to get downhill,” Mosley said in a Tuesday news conference of the rookie forward, who nearly topped his previous career-high (28 points) in the second half when he pumped in 27 points. “We’ve talked about his basketball IQ and competitiveness, but there’s also his ability to make the right read and attack the rim with force.”
Picked No. 8, Franz Wagner already ranks among the top NBA rookies
NBA fans certainly could be forgiven for having missed the exploits of Wagner thus far, considering how unwatchable, at times, the Orlando Magic have been. They are 2-12 at home and already have endured two seven-game losing streaks.
Wagner, however, has been the bright and shining ray of hope peeking through the doom and gloom of another forgettable rebuilding season for Orlando.
Coming into Thursday, he was tied for first in scoring (15.6 PPG) and ranked second in 3-point shooting (36.4%), fourth in steals (1.1 SPG), and sixth in assists (2.7 APG) among NBA rookies.
His 38-point effort put him in some great company in Magic annuals. His scoring output tied for third in Magic history among rookies. He joined Shaquille O’Neal (46, 38, and 38 in 1993) and Dennis Scott (40 in 1991) in team history.
Making the night even more special for Wagner was having his former college coach, Juwan Howard, and many of his former University of Michigan teammates in the crowd.
“I saw everybody, and it’s really cool to see my friends,” Wagner said in Tuesday’s postgame news conference. “The coaching staff is a huge part of my development.”
Wagner’s big night, which included four 3-pointers, 10 free throw makes, and seven rebounds, resulted in NBA.com vaulting the Magic wing to the top of their Kia Rookie Ladder — one rung higher than Scottie Barnes and two spots ahead of Evan Mobley.
Mostly overshadowed on draft night by teammate Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner could be another great find by President Jeff Weltman and GM John Hammond
In trading Nikola Vucevic to the Chicago Bulls last spring, the Orlando Magic entered the NBA Draft with two first-round selections. Much of the focus was on what the Magic would do at No. 5, and their fan base exploded with joy when Jalen Suggs was the choice.
Picking Wagner — who had averaged just 12.5 points as a sophomore at Michigan — was greeted with a collective shrug by the Magic fans who cheered Suggs minutes earlier.
Suggs, who starred in his one collegiate season at Gonzaga, struggled mightily in his first few NBA games before fracturing his right thumb. Wagner, however, had no problem transitioning to the NBA and immediately thrived.
“It was just a matter of time because Franz is a phenomenal player,” Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. said. “At the beginning of the year, one thing he was struggling with was confidence. I told him, `They drafted you for a reason! Play your game.’
“We understand what he can do because, in training camp, he was killing. I knew this was going to happen because of how fundamentally sound he is,” Carter continued.
Had Toronto taken Suggs at No. 4, the Magic likely would have drafted Barnes. That almost assuredly would have resulted in Orlando picking a guard at No. 8 to address its woeful shooting.
As it turns out, Magic President Jeff Weltman and GM John Hammond might have struck gold with Wagner. If that happens, it wouldn’t be the first time the Weltman/Hammond duo uncovered a future star who began as a lanky European with an unrefined game. After all, they found a scrawny Giannis Antetokounmpo tucked away in a dank Greek gym and made him the 15th pick of the 2013 NBA Draft.
Rampant injuries and illnesses throughout the Orlando Magic roster have opened up plenty of opportunities for Wagner, who has taken advantage
Fultz and Isaac, the cornerstone building blocks, are still recovering from knee injuries. Terrence Ross, Cole Anthony, Mo Bamba, and Suggs have been in and out of the lineup.
Those absences created opportunities for Wagner, and he proved himself ready. Despite often being surrounded by four G League call-ups, Wagner has been a model of consistency.
Amid another gloomy season, the Magic finally have a player in Wagner who could help them enjoy brighter days in the not-so-distant future.
“He shows up early, stays late, and takes care of his body,” Mosley said of Wagner. “The ability to be a pro — that’s what we’re talking about with our young guys. As they grow and get better, that’s what we’re asking them to do.”
Statistics courtesy ESPN.com
RELATED: Magic Rookie Jalen Suggs Could Have Been a Two-Sport Star in College
The post The Orlando Magic Are Again an Unmitigated Mess, But They Have Something Promising To Build Around in Rookie Forward Franz Wagner appeared first on Sportscasting | Pure Sports.
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By: John Denton
Title: The Orlando Magic Are Again an Unmitigated Mess, But They Have Something Promising To Build Around in Rookie Forward Franz Wagner
Sourced From: www.sportscasting.com/rookie-franz-wagner-serving-as-a-ray-of-hope-in-otherwise-gloomy-season-for-orlando-magic/
Published Date: Thu, 30 Dec 2021 19:22:30 +0000
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