After a strong season last year, Franz Wagner was rewarded before this season and signed a new contract worth $224 million. He talked about how his strong season and new contract influence his standing and role with the Magic.
Career-highs in all statistics, only the three was a problem for him: At least on the field, Franz Wagner developed into the most important player for the Orlando Magic alongside Paolo Banchero last season. The reward: in the summer, he signed a gigantic contract. The Berliner will receive 224 million US dollars over the next five years. Together with Banchero, who is even a year younger, the 23-year-old is the future promise of the franchise from Florida. And he should continue to deliver in the present.
Wagner is aware of his responsibility
This also means that he has a role as a team leader. The wing player is well aware of this, as he made clear in an interview with The Athletic: “Honestly, that’s something we have to grow into. We’re not the outgoing personalities, we’re not the loudest voices on the team,” Wagner said. A quote that would almost certainly not slip out of his older brother Moritz’s mouth. Although he plays a slightly smaller role than Franz in the Magic’s lineup, he is known as an extroverted character.
The younger of the Wagner brothers will be expected to do just that more and more, just like Banchero: “At some point, that will be required of us,” the small forward added. He said their personal relationship was very good: “We have a lot of respect for each other and really enjoy playing together. I think we have a great relationship. This is the start of us being able to carry responsibility together in the future.”
