Following in Nowitzki's footsteps: Franz Wagner on his way to NBA stardom
Franz Wagner cannot avoid the eternal comparisons with basketball legend Dirk Nowitzki. After the historic World Cup in Asia, the young star of the Orlando Magic was able to do something Nowitzki was never granted in his 21 glorious NBA years: let his teammates in the USA celebrate him as world champion with a typical German meal.
"We had potato pancakes, schnitzel, cheese spaetzle and red cabbage. There was quite a lot," said Franz Wagner about the meal organized by the Orlando Magic, which celebrated "very classic German cuisine".
Wagner follows in Nowitzki's footsteps in many respects, but goes his own way in Florida, which is also wonderful in the winter months. Alongside his brother and roommate Moritz, the Berlin native is already playing his third season with the Magic. Older brother Moritz is one of his biggest fans.
"Proud? That doesn't bother me at all. That's my little brother, I'd love him either way. I really enjoy watching him," said Moritz about Franz. At the World Cup, they wore their first names on the jerseys - and sensationally made Germany world champions for the first time.
A haven of peace for the family
The Wagners did not miss the opportunity to celebrate their success on their return to Orlando. They appeared together in world champion shirts and - somewhat provocatively - greeted Paolo Banchero, among others, who was beaten by the USA in a thrilling World Cup semi-final in Manila. "It was cool. I think the guys were happy for us. It was cool to see," described Franz Wagner.
The 22-year-old appears calm and often speaks softly; in a lively family with parents Axel and Beate, who have known each other since the World Cup, he is seen as a calming influence. "He has carved out a niche for himself in our family. He looked at it and thought, now I'll be a bit quieter and think before I speak," Moritz Wagner said about his brother, who is four years younger. The duo are not only part of a family, but are also friends and give interviews together. The relationship is right.
After two years of numerous defeats, the Magic are looking competitive for the first time this season. Wins such as the impressive 112:97 over former champions Milwaukee Bucks with star player Giannis Antetokounmpo are therefore no coincidence. Led by young stars Wagner and Banchero, a first playoff appearance since 2020 is possible. And then also the first knockout series win since 2010 - Franz Wagner was a primary school student back then.
"He can achieve Nowitzki's status"
Nowitzki also ended up in Dallas at a troubled club, which he first led out of obscurity, then into the playoffs and a few years later to its first championship. That is still a long way off for Wagner, but individual comparisons are being made again and again.
National coach Gordon Herbert once said of the super talent: "As a player, he's better than I thought. He can reach the status of Dirk Nowitzki. He even has a killer instinct that Dirk probably didn't have at that age." That was before the World Cup sensation, including the gold medal.
A multi-part documentary is currently being made about the Wagner brothers. The filming locations could hardly be more exciting: at the World Cup in Okinawa, Japan, and in Manila, in the NBA across the USA and at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. World champion captain Dennis Schröder makes no secret of who he sees as his successor in the national team in the medium term. "He will be the complete face of the NBA and the national team in the coming years," Schröder said of Franz Wagner.
Source: www.dpa.com
