FAQ
With the duel between the Orlando Magic and the Memphis Grizzlies, an NBA game will take place on German soil for the first time on Thursday. The most important questions and answers about the duel in Berlin.
The best basketball league is stopping in Berlin. On January 15th, an NBA league game will take place on German soil for the first time in the Uber Arena. The duel between the Orlando Magic and the Memphis Grizzlies takes on special meaning not only because of the premiere, but also because of the homecoming of two brothers from Berlin. It is still unclear whether Franz and Moritz Wagner will actually be seen together on the dance floor. The most important questions and answers about the NBA match in the capital.
Why is the NBA coming to Berlin?
When the ball rises for tipoff on Thursday at 8 p.m., a three-year plan drawn up by the NBA for the so-called “Europe Games” begins. After the German premiere, another game will be played in Berlin in 2028, and the US league will also make stops in London, Manchester and Paris.
The goal is clear: to get the word out. The background is the expansion efforts of Commissioner Adam Silver. The NBA wants to become a big player on the European basketball market in the future and even have one in October 2027 start their own European league. The German capital will then also become a location.
What sporting significance does the game have?
Sporting explosiveness is not exactly in the air. A total of 82 season games have to be played per team in the NBA, of which only around half have been completed after the game in Berlin. So things won’t get exciting until much later in the year. The Magic are currently in seventh place in the Eastern Conference and are fighting for direct playoff positions, the Grizzlies are tenth in the Western Conference and are trying not to slip out of the play-in places.
Are the Wagner brothers playing?
The game also takes on particular significance due to the return of two Berliners. The brothers Franz and Moritz Wagner grew up in Prenzlauer Berg and both played for Alba in the Bundesliga before having great basketball careers in the USA. Franz in particular is considered one of the greatest talents in the entire league and is currently the highest-paid German athlete of all time. It is questionable whether the audience in the capital will actually see both brothers play.
The brothers Moritz (l.) and Franz Wagner became basketball world champions together in 2023
The good news first: at least nothing seems to stand in the way of Moritz Wagner’s appearance since the weekend at the latest. In Orlando’s win against the New Orleans Pelicans, the older Wagner brother made his comeback on Sunday after more than a year out due to injury. Wagner was on the floor for ten minutes on Sunday after a torn cruciate ligament caused him to miss, among other things, the European Championship title for German basketball players last summer.
Franz Wagner’s Berlin assignment, however, is still questionable. Who has been missing from the Magic since the beginning of December with a sprained ankle – but, according to his club, should return soon. Orlando’s head coach Jamahl Mosley recently stated that he “of course wants Wagner to play in Berlin”, but also said: “We still have a long season ahead of us and want to be as healthy as possible for it.”
Who are the other stars?
On Orlando’s side, forward Paolo Banchero should be mentioned. Along with Franz Wagner, he is an absolute top performer for the Magic and is averaging around 21 points, nine rebounds and five assists per game this season. He just led his team to victory over the Brooklyn Nets with a spectacular throw at the final buzzer.
Tristan da Silva is also well known to the German audience. The Munich native has been playing in the USA for many years, but was instrumental in Germany’s European Championship success in the summer. With the Magic, he is a solid role player on the floor for just over 20 minutes per game.
Could be about to leave Memphis: Star guard Ja Morant
The best-known face for the Grizzlies, however, is Ja Morant. However, the point guard not only attracted attention through his athletic performance (Rookie of the Year and two-time Allstar), but also caused scandals several times by publicly posing with firearms. Recently he has repeatedly struggled with injuries and is currently playing the second weakest season of his career with an average points per game of 19.
There is currently speculation as to whether Memphis would like to trade the 26-year-old and hand the reins of leadership to Jaren Jackson Jr. instead. The 2.08 meter giant is best known for his strong defensive work and was voted the league’s best defender two years ago.
What can fans expect from the game?
Until tipoff on Thursday, fan activities are being offered at various locations in the capital, some of which allow you to get very close to the stars. For example, there will be a meet and greet with the Wagner brothers on January 14th at the “Kickz” basketball shop on Kurfürstendamm.
Anyone who follows US sports knows, of course, that entertainment is also very important to the Americans indoors. And so the halftime show cannot be missed at the NBA game in Berlin. The German rapper Luciano is supposed to heat up the fans during the break.
As part of his tour, rapper Luciano rocked the Uber Arena in December
Are there still tickets?
Yes, but only for those who want to dig deep into their pockets. The regular tickets for the game were sold out within a short period of time and only those who had previously registered for and won a lottery were even given the opportunity to purchase one of the coveted tickets. However, if you have the necessary change, you can still secure a place for the game in the premium segment. The prices for this start at 610 euros per person.
However, entry directly opposite the large arena is significantly cheaper. There will be a public viewing of the game on a big screen in the Uber Eats Music Hall, as well as a pre-game show. For 15 euros you can experience a little NBA atmosphere there, and there are still some tickets available.
Where will the game be broadcast?
If you prefer to watch from your couch at home, you need a Prime Video subscription. Amazon’s streaming service has secured the exclusive rights to broadcast the game live.
Broadcast: rbb|24, January 12, 2026, 5:40 a.m
