COLOGNE (Germany) - Franz Wagner turned only 21 years old just before the FIBA EuroBasket 2022, and the Orlando Magic wing has already joined Dirk Nowitzki and Dennis Schroder in the German record books.

Is he Germany's next superstar? 

Wagner himself is just having fun being back on the continent.

Three games into his first major tournament, Wagner is averaging 19.3 points on 50 percent three-point shooting, 5.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks, leading the team in scoring and efficiency (21.3 per game). He was named TCL Player of the Game after Germany's 109-107 double-overtime thrilling win over Lithuania as he poured in 32 points to go with 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks.

 
"I really enjoy this brand of basketball. This is how I grew up playing. We have really, really good players. Everybody wants to share the ball, look for the extra pass. That's how I grew up playing, back door cuts, easy baskets like that. So I enjoy that part of the game," Wagner said.

The German fans have come out in droves to Cologne to see the country's next star. With his performance against Lithuania, Wagner became just the third German to score 30 or more points in a single EuroBasket game in the 21st century after Nowitzki and Schroder.

The latter - Germany's team captain - is really impressed with the newcomer.

"Franz is a very competitive guy, and he is always eager to learn and be a better player every single day. He is also very motivated to help the team, because he is a team player, and he impacts the game on both sides of the floor," said Schroder. "He brings us also a lot of versatility and he can be one of the most impactful players of the tournament."

Germany’s other leading playmaker Maodo Lo called Wagner "unbelievable".

"What really impresses me is the maturity, the way he plays. He has a certain calmness. Although he is only 21 years old he expresses so much calmness on the floor and so much trust and confidence in his abilities. He obviously has great physical abilities - size, super skilled, huge IQ, great shot, is able to put the ball on the floor. So he has all the skills basketball wise but mentally as well. He’s smart on the court and has a certain aggressiveness to be confident and go at the opponent. And all that at 21.

"He's special man, and we're very blessed to have him on the team. He's a great guy as well off the court. He’s a great human being. And I’m happy to be his teammate."

Germany head coach Gordie Herbert also had high praise for Wagner, who finished his first NBA season on the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

"HE'S SPECIAL MAN, AND WE'RE VERY BLESSED TO HAVE HIM ON THE TEAM."

"He's a young and up-coming player and a big part of this basketball team. Even better is the type of person he is: humble and he has a great future. It's great that he made a commitment to represent Germany," Herbert said.

There was never a question for Wagner playing at this EuroBasket, especially with the Knockout Phase being played in his home city of Berlin.

"It's gonna be super special. It's the gym we went to as fans and kids and got the chance to play there for ALBA Berlin - and now with the national team would be super cool," said Wagner, who grew up in the ALBA youth ranks and played parts of two seasons with Berlin's pro team before leaving Germany to attend the University of Michigan.

Wagner was also present in 2015 when the German capital hosted one of the group stages.

 
"The atmosphere was just crazy - all the crazy fans from different countries coming together in one arena. And it was Dirk's last tournament," Wagner recalled. "I remember the Spain game, really was a really close game. That's definitely one of the best atmospheres that I've experienced as a fan in Germany."

Now Wagner gets a chance to experience that great atmosphere as a player - and one of Germany's next top hopes for the future at that.

FIBA