Orlando Magic Daily
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Top 15 rookies in Orlando Magic history

By Harrison Brown

ORLANDO, FL - JUNE 6: Orlando Magic's Shaquille O'Neal (L) looks at teammate Dennis Scott who is wearing an O'Neal jersey as they talk 06 June after their team's practice session at the Orlando Arena. Orlando will face the Houston Rockets in the NBA Championship starting 07 June in Orlando. AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read ROBERT SULLIVAN/AFP via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - JUNE 6: Orlando Magic's Shaquille O'Neal (L) looks at teammate Dennis Scott who is wearing an O'Neal jersey as they talk 06 June after their team's practice session at the Orlando Arena. Orlando will face the Houston Rockets in the NBA Championship starting 07 June in Orlando. AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read ROBERT SULLIVAN/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 13: Franz Wagner #22 of the Orlando Magic dunks against the Washington Wizards during the second half at Amway Center on November 13, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Top 15 Orlando Magic Rookies

6. Franz Wagner

15.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.9 APG, 79 games, 79 starts, 30.7 MPG, 51.1% FG%

Franz Wagner.

He immediately took over the organization and never looked back. After being the eighth selection in the 2021 NBA Draft, many anticipated Wagner to play a catch-and-shoot offensive role and primarily be an off-ball threat with minimal ability to create.

He can catch and shoot at a high rate, but he can also be a focal point on an offense. As a 20-year-old, Wagner was the second-leading scorer on the team.

Wagner can be the primary ball-handler in a pick-and-roll, he can run off screens, he can finish over bigs with creative hook shots, and he can beat defenders with dribble moves to shift the defense and find open teammates.

At 6-foot-10, there are not many players in the NBA with those skills.

During his rookie season, the Orlando Magic played the Milwaukee Bucks two full months into the season on Dec. 27. Franz Wagner matched up with Giannis Antetokounmpo for most of the game, and scored 38 points, grabbed seven rebounds, dished out three assists and shot better than 50 percent from the field against the former MVP.

Wagner ended up winning the NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for December, largely due to that effort, and he continued to impress throughout the season.

Even more of an added benefit was Wagner’s defense. He is long and has great lateral movement where he can stay in front of offensive players and close driving windows.

He can guard any player on the floor making switching on defense not a problem. He is up for the challenge of guarding the best players in the NBA.

The Magic only had three players play 80 percent or more of the season that year and Wagner played all but two games. The lack of health across Orlando’s roster gave Wagner an opportunity to showcase why he was a lottery pick.

Orlando had a revolving door of players in the rotation in 2022 and ended up having 22 players suit up for the team. This goes to show the lack of continuity and experience the team had together.

It did not affect Wagner. He played hard and never took plays or games off. He is consistently working on his craft and continuously reiterated his ultimate goal of winning in the NBA.

Wagner finished with 15.2 points per game and was a main factor in Coach Jamahl Mosley’s “pace and space” offense. The Magic finished 10th in the NBA in pace, and Wagner was one of the primary rim runners and ball handlers.

Wagner finished fifth in voting for the Rookie of the Year, and if Orlando did not finish dead last in the Eastern Conference, that voting would be much different.

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