Franz Wagner

Franz Wagner

Franz Jacob Wagner (born August 27, 2001) is a German professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 m) and weighing 225 pounds (102 kg), Wagner is a versatile forward known for his high basketball IQ, secondary playmaking, and multi-level scoring.

A cornerstone of the Magic’s young core, Wagner was an NBA All-Rookie First Team selection in 2022 and earned his first NBA All-Star nod in 2026. Internationally, he is a leader for the German national team, having led them to a historic gold medal at the 2023 FIBA World Cup and a fourth-place finish at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

 

Early Life 

Wagner was born in Berlin, Germany, to Beate Wagner and Axel Schulz. He grew up in a basketball-centric household; his older brother, Moritz “Moe” Wagner, also plays for the Orlando Magic and was a star at the University of Michigan.

Franz began his basketball journey with the youth program of ALBA Berlin. In 2017, at just 16 years old, he began playing for ALBA’s affiliate team, SSV Locomotives Bernau, in the German third tier. By the 2018–19 season, he made his debut in the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL), the top tier of German basketball. At 17, he was named the BBL Best Young German Player after averaging 4.6 points in 12.4 minutes per game while shooting 52.9% from the field.

College Career (2019–2021)

Following his brother’s footsteps, Wagner committed to play for the University of Michigan under coach Juwan Howard.

• Freshman Season (2019–2020): Despite missing the start of the season with a fractured wrist, Wagner started every game he played, averaging 11.6 points and 5.6 rebounds. He was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team.
• Sophomore Season (2020–2021): Wagner emerged as a premier two-way prospect, averaging 12.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists. He led the Wolverines to a Big Ten regular-season title and an Elite Eight appearance.

He was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team by coaches and the media before declaring for the 2021 NBA Draft.

NBA Career 

Orlando Magic (2021–Present)

Early Success and Development

The Orlando Magic selected Wagner with the 8th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. He made an immediate impact, starting 79 games as a rookie and averaging 15.2 points. On December 27, 2021, he scored a career-high 38 points against the Milwaukee Bucks, the most by a Magic rookie since Shaquille O’Neal.

In his second and third seasons, Wagner established a formidable “point-forward” duo with Paolo Banchero. He improved his scoring average to 19.7 points in 2023–24 and helped Orlando reach the playoffs for the first time in four years.

Maximum Extension (2024–Present)

In July 2024, Wagner signed a five-year, maximum rookie scale extension worth up to $269 million, the largest contract in the Orlando Magic franchise history. He rewarded the team’s faith with a stellar 2024–25 season, averaging 22.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists while leading Orlando to the second round of the playoffs.

As of the 2025- 2026 season, Wagner is enjoying the most efficient season of his career. He is currently averaging 21.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game.

National Team Career

Wagner is the centerpiece of a “golden era” for German basketball.

• EuroBasket 2022: He averaged 16.1 points to lead Germany to a bronze medal on home soil.
• 2023 FIBA World Cup: Wagner was instrumental in Germany’s undefeated run to the gold medal. Despite an ankle injury early in the tournament, he returned for the knockout stages and was named the Player of the Game in the final against Serbia.
• 2024 Paris Olympics: He led the team in scoring (18.5 ppg) as Germany reached the semi-finals for the first time in Olympic history.

Career Highlights & Awards

• NBA All-Rookie First Team (2022)
• FIBA World Cup Gold Medalist (2023)
• FIBA World Cup All-Second Team (2023)
• BBL Best Young German Player (2019)
• All-Big Ten Second Team (2021)

Personal Life

Franz remains very close to his brother Moe; the two live together in Orlando and are known for their playful sibling rivalry and joint community initiatives. He is fluent in German and English and is an advocate for youth basketball development in Berlin. Outside of basketball, Wagner is an avid reader and has expressed interest in pursuing further education in psychology or business following his playing career.