Franz Wagner
German NBA star faces long retirement
12/8/2025 – 12:16 a.mReading time: 2 min.
Franz Wagner is the top German star in the NBA. The world and European champion was injured in the game in New York. There is great concern about serious injury.
The top German basketball star Franz Wagner was injured in the NBA and is in danger of being out for a long time. In his Orlando Magic’s game against the New York Knicks, the world and European champion twisted his left leg after a foul by compatriot Ariel Hukporti. The 24-year-old Wagner had to leave the field limping, with his face contorted in pain and supported by two people.
The Magic said Wagner suffered a leg injury and will be evaluated upon returning to Orlando.
In the first quarter, the Berlin native went up for a dunk and was fouled from behind by Knicks professional Hukporti. When landing, Wagner twisted his left knee, as shown in video images. He immediately grabbed the joint. After initial treatment, his brother Moritz Wagner, who is also currently out injured, and another Orlando team member supported him. They accompanied the star into the dressing room.
“It hurt my heart to see him hit the ground like that,” Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley said. “I pray that everything is okay with him.” There was initially no diagnosis or prognosis about the downtime. Without their top scorer, the Magic lost 100:106. “It’s hard to see something like this happen to him (…), who always behaves in an exemplary manner on the field.”
For Wagner’s team it has been a season with ups and downs so far. The promising franchise had just gotten its top scorer from last season, Paolo Banchero, back from a groin injury. Banchero had to sit out ten games.
Wagner in particular was one of the Magic players who closed the gap in attack. In the last seven games, he averaged 25.1 points, six rebounds and four assists and led the Orlando Magic in internal scoring.
