Moritz Wagner wants to play for Orlando Magic in Berlin.Bild: AP / Julia Demaree Nikhinson
NBA
The NBA is coming to Berlin again. In 1996 and 2006 there were only preseason games, now there will be an official season game in Germany for the first time. But Moritz Wagner also expresses concerns.
12.01.2026, 09:0412.01.2026, 09:04
For many basketball fans, the absolute highlight is getting closer and closer. The first regular season game of the American NBA will take place in Germany on Thursday, January 15th. The Orlando Magic meet the Memphis Grizzlies in Berlin’s Uber Arena.
The German superstars Franz and Moritz Wagner will also be at the start in Berlin. It is not yet clear whether both will play together. Moritz Wagner, who tore his cruciate ligament in December 2024, made his comeback on Sunday against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Orlando Magic: Fears for Franz Wagner before NBA Berlin Game
Brother Franz has been missing since the beginning of December with an ankle injury and is said to be pushing for a stint in Berlin. However, those responsible for the Magic are slowing down. Head coach Jamahl Mosley recently said: “Of course we want them to be able to be there at the Berlin game. They want to be there too. We just have to think long-term.”
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In addition to the injuries, Moritz Wagner himself has completely different concerns about returning to his hometown. In the current episode of the podcast “Can’t you say that,” which he produces together with co-host and physical therapist Arne Greskowiak, the power forward expresses his concerns about the schedule.
NBA: Moritz Wagner irritated by supporting program
When Greskowiak wants to know exactly when the Wagner brothers and the team will arrive in Berlin, Moritz explains that the team is boarding the plane after the game against New Orleans: “That means we will arrive in Berlin on Monday morning.”
“Then you’ve been in Berlin for a long time. That’s not usual either,” says Greskowiak. Wagner agrees with this, but also limits it: “But I always think about summer trips to Berlin because it always takes a week to get there over time.”
He goes on to explain that he doesn’t want to sound dramatic, “but anyone flying east with the time difference, that’s just brutal.” If the 28-year-old has his way, the three to four days before the game are already at their absolute limit.
However, Wagner not only includes the adjustment period, but also the supporting program in the days before the game. “What I’m doing is running around. I have four to five things to do every day,” he says.
Wagner emphasizes that he doesn’t want to give the impression that he’s complaining because he’s so excited about the Berlin Game. Nevertheless, it is important that the game and the optimal preparation for it are the focus: “I also have to cool my knee after training. The American says: ‘Keep the main thing the main thing’. I try my best to ensure that there is a bit of regeneration.”
When does the NBA game take place in Berlin and where is it on TV?
The Orlando Magic’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies begins on January 15th at 8 p.m. The broadcast on the Prime Video streaming platform begins at 7:30 p.m.
