By Matthias Marburg
In 1954, the Walter brothers Fritz († 81) and Ottmar († 89) created the Miracle of Bern. 69 years later, two brothers are making us world champions again: the Wagner brothers Moritz (26) and Franz (22)!
They grew up in the Prenzlauer Berg district of Berlin. Father Axel Schulz (no, not the ex-boxer) was formerly the GDR national handball goalkeeper. Mother Beate is a doctor, medical journalist – and her sons’ biggest fan. She also gets up at night when her sons go basket hunting in the USA.
Even in childhood, the big one is the role model for the little one. Franz: “When we grew up, I always imitated everything he did.”
It stays that way. Both play for Alba Berlin. In 2015, Moritz, known as Moe, moved to the University of Michigan. In 2018 he is going to the NBA. Franz comes to Michigan in 2019 and turns professional two years later. Today both are under contract with the Orlando Magic and live under the same roof in Florida.
In the NBA, the Wagner brothers are on the ball for the Orlando Magic Photo: AP/Aaron Gash
Two brothers who couldn’t be more different in nature. National coach Gordon Herbert (64) about the BZ: “Moritz is the loudest in the dressing room. Francis the Quiet. When I visit them and we go out to eat, Moe talks 95 percent of the time. His brother only five percent.”
The fans at the World Cup were able to see how loud the mother in particular can be. There she cheered loudly in the front row. Moritz: “She couldn’t be ignored….”
On Instagram, the brothers call themselves moritz_weasley (187,000 followers) and franz_weasley (146,000 followers). Background: When Moe signs up for Facebook as a child, his mom doesn’t want him to use his real name. Moritz: “I came up with one that everyone knows isn’t mine, similar to my real name.”
Moritz Wagner fulfills the fans’ wishes at the reception in Frankfurt Photo: REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw
So he took the one from Harry Potter character Ron Weasley. Moritz: “Now it’s my nickname.” Of course, his brother also followed suit on social media.
Franz is the more talented on the floor. Nevertheless, with 5.1 million euros in the coming season, he will earn slightly less than Moritz (7.4 million euros).
He had prominent support on his way to the NBA. In 2018, shortly before his move to the US professional league, Moritz signed with the consulting agency “Roc Nation Sports”. It belongs to rap legend Jay-Z (53). But now they have parted ways again.
With final determination: Moritz high-fives his brother Franz in the World Cup final against Serbia Photo: picture alliance/dpa
A multi-part documentary about the brothers is currently being filmed and will be broadcast in December 2024.
Do you ever see the two of them arguing there? Moritz: “Of course we sometimes piss each other off. But we have found good ways to deal with it.”