NBA premiere in Germany
Wagner brothers celebrate “home victory” in Berlin
January 15, 2026 – 11:31 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Two Berliners on the court, Jürgen Klopp and Dirk Nowitzki on the sidelines. At the NBA game in the capital, the focus is on the Wagner brothers.
The Berlin basketball brothers Franz and Moritz Wagner won the first regular NBA game on German soil with the Orlando Magic. In front of 14,000 enthusiastic fans in the sold-out Uber Arena, the team from Florida beat the Memphis Grizzlies 118:111 on Thursday.
Franz Wagner scored 18 points in his comeback after recovering from an ankle injury. The 24-year-old world champion was right in the starting five and was celebrated with shouts of “MVP” from the home fans. His brother Moritz contributed seven points, while the third German to wear the Magic jersey, Tristan da Silva, scored eight points. The team’s best thrower was star player Paolo Banchero with 26 points.
“What’s up, Berlin! The last few days here have been unforgettable. We still can’t believe we’re here. Let’s have a blast today,” Franz Wagner called out to the spectators before the start of the game.
Orlando got off to a rocky start. The Grizzlies went on a 15-2 run, while all three German players ended the first quarter without a point. Only at the beginning of the second quarter did Franz Wagner score with a floater, whereupon Moritz immediately followed up with a three-pointer.
After the break, Orlando turned up the heat. Franz Wagner initiated the comeback with a converted three-pointer. In the middle of the third quarter, his team pulled ahead thanks to a 13-0 run and secured victory in the exciting final quarter.
The Wagner brothers had purchased over 200 tickets for friends and family. Among the spectators were the soccer world champions Thomas Müller and Mats Hummels as well as coach Jürgen Klopp and former basketball player Dirk Nowitzki.
For the Berlin natives, the game was the highlight of an eventful stay in their hometown. Since landing on Monday, they completed a marathon interview, took part in charity events and visited the Brandenburg Gate.