Franz Wagner earned NBA All-Rookie First-Team during his first season in the league, but he already looks like he is ready to take another leap forward.
Wagner, who is a 6-foot-10 forward, is representing Germany on the national team this offseason. On the court, he has been one of the most efficient scorers of EuroBasket 2022. His jump shot looks sharp both off the dribble and off the catch, and he is a productive player on both sides of the ball.
Thanks in no small part to Wagner’s contributions, Germany defeated Greece — including a 20-1 run in the third quarter — to advance to the semifinals of the tournament. His squad will face the Spanish national, and the winner will represent their country in the championship game.
But the best highlight of the evening came when Wagner nailed a nasty stepback 3-pointers over Giannis Antetokounmpo, whose 7-foot-3 wingspan could not slow down the former Michigan standout.
Franz Wagner stepback over Giannis 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/rGlyqeTJyj
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) September 13, 2022
It is not easy to do this against the two-time MVP, who not only won the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2020 but has also earned NBA All-Defensive First-Team consideration four years in a row.
All things considered, this was an absurdly impressive shot for Wagner, who just turned 21 years old last month. But it wasn’t the only shooting highlight from Wagner during the game. Wagner, who was dealing with a sprained right ankle, finished the game with 19 points.
This excellent performance was nothing new for Wagner, who scored 32 points against Lithuania on Sept. 4. He was 4-for-7 from beyond the arc.
I was most impressed with Wagner against Sweden during the FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers on August 25. He recorded 16 points but added 5 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 steals. It was the perfect display of his utility.
Wagner is finishing a large share of his offensive possessions as the ball-handler in pick and roll sets, per Synergy. Only two players have been more efficient when shooting off the bounce. Combine that skill set with rookie teammate Paolo Banchero, and the Magic may have the best blend of height and creation skills of any young frontcourt in the NBA.
