When star ahead Paolo Banchero suffered an indirect damage, it appeared the Orlando Magic would sputter. Nonetheless, Franz Wagner has prevented that from taking place.
Wagner stayed scorching on Wednesday night time vs. the Philadelphia 76ers. The 23-year-old ahead recorded 35 factors, seven rebounds, two assists and one block on 12-of-23 taking pictures from the sector, main Orlando to a 106-102 highway victory.
The Magic (16-8) have gained 13 of their final 15 video games due partly to Wagner’s breakout.
By way of his first 23 video games, he has averaged profession highs in factors per recreation (23.7), rebounds per recreation (5.6) and assists per recreation (5.9). He is additionally taking pictures 46.4% from the sector, the second-highest mark of his profession.
Unsurprisingly, the previous Michigan Wolverine is an early candidate for Most Improved Participant. As of Wednesday, FanDuel Sportsbook provides him the very best odds to win the award (+165).
In a Wednesday roundtable, The Athletic’s Josh Robbins tabbed Wagner as his choose for Most Improved Participant.
“As a smart NBA author wrote 11 months in the past, probably the most significant bounce a participant could make is the bounce from good participant to star participant,” wrote Robbins. “That is the bounce Orlando’s Franz Wagner has made.”
The Magic are third within the Japanese Convention behind the Boston Celtics (18-4) and the Cleveland Cavaliers (19-3).
When Banchero returns to the lineup, he and Wagner ought to type a dynamic tandem, which ought to make Orlando even stronger. The Duke product averaged 29 factors per recreation, 8.8 rebounds per recreation and 5.6 assists per recreation in 5 video games earlier than struggling his damage.
Within the meantime, anticipate Wagner to maintain carrying the Magic and present why he might should make his first All-Star Sport.
