German NBA star Franz Wagner is making significant recovery progress and is expected to return to play soon, according to his head coach. This potential comeback comes at a crucial moment for the Orlando Magic.
After a hard-fought victory against the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night, the Magic have reignited their playoff ambitions in the Eastern Conference. With the regular season winding down, Orlando is hopeful that Franz Wagner will be able to rejoin the team.
Coach Jamahl Mosley confirmed on Tuesday that Wagner, a world and European champion, is now participating in 5-on-5 drills, stating, «Franz is making good progress.»
However, Mosley also cautioned against immediate expectations for a quick return, adding, «We will see how he responds to the treatments today. After that, we will decide on the next steps.»
Wagner has been sidelined for 22 consecutive games, watching as the Magic have stumbled from one challenge to the next. This extended absence was largely due to two premature comeback attempts earlier this year following a severe ankle injury sustained in early December. Wagner’s eagerness to play in his highly anticipated home game in Berlin against the Utah Jazz in January led him to risk his long-term health.
Franz Wagner Acknowledges Mistake in Berlin Comeback
Wagner recently admitted, «I believe the circumstances for the Berlin game were simply special. I take responsibility for playing in that game and truly pushing to be there. It was probably a bit too soon.»
The 24-year-old made another brief return for two games against the Milwaukee Bucks just before the All-Star break. Unfortunately, the joy of his comeback was short-lived, as his ankle problems resurfaced, which Wagner described as «extremely annoying.»
Wagner recently expressed his frustration about the «very frustrating process» of his recovery, which has stretched on for months: «Initially, I somehow expected to feel really good again within about four to six weeks. And obviously, that wasn’t the case. I think that’s super frustrating for everyone involved.»
Now, however, the situation might be turning around just in time for the season’s final stretch and the postseason. It’s also possible that other key Magic players, Anthony Black and Jonathan Isaac, could return to the court alongside Wagner soon.
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Black has been battling an abdominal muscle injury for weeks, while Isaac is recovering from a knee injury. «I feel much better,» Black stated on Tuesday, though he refrained from giving a specific timeline for his return.
Magic guard Jalen Suggs commented on the injured players’ efforts: «They are doing everything to get back in shape. But we shouldn’t rush anything; we want them to stay healthy for the rest of their lives. We have to give our all with the current squad, because we have more than enough players to perform at the necessary level!»
Orlando, however, has struggled to prove this point in recent weeks. They recently suffered the largest defeat in franchise history against the Toronto Raptors, allowing a historic 31-0 run. This marked their seventh loss in eight games and represented the low point of what has been a rather disappointing season so far.
Nevertheless, Orlando responded on Wednesday night with a hard-fought victory over the Phoenix Suns, re-entering the race for the final direct playoff spots. The Magic currently sit in eighth place in the East, two games behind sixth.
A crucial game against the Atlanta Hawks, currently fifth in the East, is scheduled for Wednesday night, which could significantly impact their playoff aspirations.
NBA: Eastern Conference Play-In Battle
| Rank | Team | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Atlanta Hawks | 43-33 |
| 6 | Toronto Raptors | 42-33 |
| 7 | Philadelphia 76ers | 41-34 |
| 8 | Orlando Magic | 40-35 |
| 9 | Miami Heat | 40-36 |
| 10 | Charlotte Hornets | 40-36 |