Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner made his way back to the floor after missing significant time with a left ankle injury, and he played a role he has never been asked to fill in his NBA career.
The Orlando Magic notched their third-straight victory on Monday night with a 118-99 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, and a significant portion of their success can be attributed to the return of Franz Wagner.
Wagner has missed most of the last two months with a left ankle injury, including Orlando’s previous nine games before hosting Milwaukee.
For the first time in his career, Wagner came off the bench. In just over 16 and a half minutes, he scored 14 points on 60% shooting from the field. His brother, Moe Wagner, also contributed 14 points off the bench.
After the game, Wagner discussed hit return, playing on a minutes restriction and evaluating how his body feels.
“Yeah, I mean, I feel good,” Wagner said. “I think I feel as I should at this point, you know what I mean? Obviously, still working my way back. And obviously, you've got to find the rhythm out there. But pleased with how I played.”
According to Orlando Magic PR, Wagner had started the first 317 games of his career. Now, in year five in the NBA and with the Magic, Wagner reflected on what it was like to play a reserve role.
“Yeah, I mean, it's definitely different. But I mean, I came off the bench before in my life. So, I'm just trying to find other ways to obviously get ready and be ready once you get subbed in. And sometimes it's fun to have a change of routine like that.”
Initially, Wagner missed 16 games after suffering a high sprain in his left ankle during a Dec. 7 game against the New York Knicks. He then returned in the middle of January to join his teammates on the floor for a pair of games in Europe against the Memphis Grizzlies, the first of which was in Berlin, Germany, the hometown of the Wagner brothers.
After Orlando concluded the trip with a loss to the Grizzlies in London, England, Wagner dealt with soreness in his ankle that compelled him to return to the sideline to rehabilitate the injury.
Wagner could have remained out of the lineup through the All-Star break to give himself additional rest time, but it was not something he wanted to do despite not being competely back to normal.
“I mean, I just want to play basketball,” he said. “If I'm ready to go — like I said, I think I'm not where I want to be yet physically. So, I'm using these games to get to that point as soon as I can. And got a good 16 and a half minutes today.
And the sooner you start that process, I think, like I said, the sooner you get to 100%. And we're going to need everybody down the stretch of the season.”
Magic coach Jamahl Mosley knows that it will take some time for Wagner to reacclimate entirely, but he was encouraged by what he saw out of the 24-year-old.
“Obviously, his wind is going to take some time,” Mosley said. “But his ability to get downhill, to play make, to create for his teammates; I thought he did a great job being aggressive and not letting things get to him.”
For the first time in a long time, Mosley received the opportunity to see key members of his roster available at once, and while it is a good sign, he emphasized the time it will take to manage rotations and playing time.
“I love their energy,” he said. “I really do love the way that they play; just being able to be back on the floor together. Again, it's going to take a moment in time as we continue to get guys in and out of the lineup with finding the minutes restrictions and make sure that guys, when they step on the court, they're ready to go.”
The Magic will host the Bucks once again on Wednesday before halting games for the All-Star break. Their final four games before the break have all been at home, and now there is a chance to finish the homestand 4-0, which will be crucial for Orlando’s place in the standings, as it currently holds a 28-24 record and the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference as of Tuesday.