Franz Wagner joins The Old Man and The Three to discuss his basketball journey from playing in Germany to the NBA. He talks about the differences between international and American basketball, his experience beating Team USA at the FIBA World Cup, and his development as a player. He also shares insights from learning from players like Luka Doncic and Jimmy Butler and discusses his relationship with his brother Mo Wagner and the state of the Orlando Magic.
Playing for the German national team and winning the gold medal in the World Cup fostered strong chemistry and pride within the team.
Jamal Mosley's leadership as head coach of the Orlando Magic has created a strong sense of camaraderie and belief in their abilities as a cohesive unit.
Franz Wagner and Paolo Bencero exemplify the current trend of versatile, two-way wing players finding success in the NBA.
Deep dives
The Importance of Team Chemistry and the Power of Playing for the National Team
Playing for the German national team and winning the gold medal in the World Cup was a significant achievement for Franz Wagner and the entire German basketball community. It instilled a belief in the team and created a sense of pride. The experience of playing with the same core group of players for several years fostered strong chemistry and a deep understanding of each other's game.
Jamal Mosley's Impact on the Orlando Magic
Jamal Mosley, the head coach of the Orlando Magic, is regarded as a players' coach and creates a strong sense of camaraderie within the team. His genuine care for the players and his defensive-minded approach set the tone for the team's playing style. The Magic have developed a belief in their abilities as a cohesive unit, and Mosley's leadership has played a significant role in fostering a winning culture.
Franz Wagner and Paolo Bencero: The Two-Way Wing Prototypes
Franz Wagner and Paolo Bencero embody the modern NBA prototype of a two-way wing player. Their versatility, basketball IQ, and ability to impact the game in multiple areas make them a challenging matchup for opponents. Wagner and Bencero complement each other well on the court, utilizing their skills to create mismatches and generate advantages for their team. As players who excel in multiple facets of the game, they exemplify the current trend of big ball-handling wings finding success in the NBA.
Basketball Journey in Germany
Growing up in Germany, the speaker and his brother had the opportunity to play basketball at a prestigious club from a young age. They practiced at a local club and as they improved, they moved up the age ranks. They started playing nationally at around 12 or 14 years old and participated in tournaments against bigger European clubs. Eventually, they were selected to practice with the professional team and had the chance to learn from experienced players. The speaker emphasizes the fortunate circumstances and resources they had access to in their basketball development.
Playing Style and Footwork
The speaker's basketball upbringing in Germany differed from the American system. They focused on concepts such as reading and reacting, passing, cutting, and understanding the game, rather than specific systems or plays. He credits this approach to developing his footwork skills from a young age. In contrast, the speaker mentions the American style of playing basketball, which often involves individual play, dribbling, and athleticism. He highlights the importance of footwork and credits the European style of teaching for his own skill development in that area.
We are extremely excited to talk with Franz Wagner in this episode of The Old Man and The Three. There's so much to get into so let's check out the topics. First, JJ and Tommy open up by remembering Golden State Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojević. Our hearts go out to his family, friends, The Warriors and anyone who knew him. Our intro continues talking about the Pascal Siakam trade to the Indiana Pacers and what it means for them. Finally, JJ reacts to The Joel Embiid / Nikola Jokic match-up this week with a little breakdown of Embiid's dominance. Then Franz joins the pod to talk about growing up playing in Germany, the differences between international basketball and American basketball, his experience being a part of the team that beat Team USA at the 2023 FIBA World cup, his basketball journey to the NBA and how he's working on developing his game, learning from players like Luka Doncic, SGA and Jimmy Butler, what it's like playing with Paolo Banchero, his relationship with his brother Mo Wagner, that state of the Orlando Magic today and so much more.
Subscribe to The Old Man and The Three podcast w/ JJ Redick (ESPN / First Take) and Tommy Alter YouTube channel today for more NBA analysis, player interviews and highlights.
