At the end of the playoffs, the NBA will announce which journalists from the USA and Canada will be the best rookie (Young players) of the season. Franz Wagner was number one on this list for a short time during the season. He wasn’t quite able to keep this place, but according to current forecasts he will end up in fourth or fifth place. This is a special award.
Staying with the rankings, Franz Wagner has the most points of any NBA rookie this season. 1,197 points in 79 games. On the one hand, this shows that Wagner is doing surprisingly well offensively in the NBA and, on the other hand, that he was able to play almost all 82 games of the season despite the high pressure.
No German NBA player was so successful from the start
Wagner played an important role in his freshman season with the Orlando Magic, averaging the second most minutes, shots and points per game for the team. No German player has delivered such a strong season in his first season in the NBA. Dirk Nowitzki fought his way through many mistakes and initial difficulties in 1998 and scored eight points per game, Dennis Schröder was repeatedly in the subordinate in 2013 G League sent to farm team.
For the best NBA rookies, the draft system is both a blessing and a curse. In most cases, they end up with the worst teams in the league, who had the best chance of being selected first in the draft. The then 19-year-old Franz Wagner was drawn in eighth place by the Magic. The team was one of the worst teams in the league last season – and even worse this season. Wagner’s individual statistics must therefore also be seen in relation to the team and its success.
Franz Wagner impresses with his calm and overview
But even if you disregard the numbers, the winger’s season has been impressive. Uncharacteristically for a rookie, Wagner rarely lost the ball or slowed down the game – his actions on offense were mostly thoughtful, controlled and purposeful. The 2.06-meter man often got the ball on the wing in Orlando and then pulled towards the basket – and was quite effective at it, but also from a distance.
His hit rate for shots from the three-point line was 35.4 percent, about the league average – that’s also very good for a player in his first season. Again and again Wagner let his skills as a game designer flash – even if that is not his primary role. There is room for improvement with Wagner in his offensive diversity. If he wants to be more unpredictable on defense, he needs to find ways to score from middle distance, for example, or to be able to score with his back to the opponent. That’s still missing in his game.
Defense is one of Wagner’s strengths
One of his great strengths and a possible insurance for a long NBA career is his defense. Franz Wagner has defended the opponents’ best wingers or point guards – including Luka Doncic and LeBron James – in most games. On average, his opponents hit less than 42 percent of their shots against him – in this category Wagner is in the top 10 in the league.
For Franz Wagner, his older brother Moritz played an important role in his first season. He also plays as a center for the Magic. He is known for loudly cheering for his teammates. Anyone who watches Magic games and observes what happens when Franz Wagner scores will often see brother Moritz cheering off the bench. For Moritz Wagner it is the fourth season in the NBA. He has experienced many ups and downs in his career and can help his brother get used to everyday life in the professional league.
The future of the Wagner brothers in Orlando
Franz Wagner will most likely play for Orlando for many years to come. In most cases, top rookies renew their contracts with their first team at least once, making it eight to nine seasons. The summer will show whether Moritz Wagner will continue to play for Orlando.
The future of the Orlando Magic is exciting and uncertain. The team consists mainly of very young players who are expected to play an important role. Another will be added via the draft this summer. Chances are Orlando will be among the underperforming teams for at least another season. But then it should slowly go in the direction of the playoffs – in order for that to succeed, some of the young players have to develop into stars. Maybe even Franz Wagner.