Franz Wagner and Germany Advance to FIBA EuroBasket Finals

The Orlando Magic are set up to have a great 2025-26 season. Their two best players, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, are expected to continue their rise towards stardom, and their roster just got a whole lot better with the addition of Desmond Bane. With Bane now on the roster and the Eastern Conference looking as wide open as ever, the expectations for the Magic are sky high. 

Those expectations are getting even bigger as Franz Wagner continues to lead Team Germany in the 2025 FIBA EuroBasket tournament. 

Germany just beat Team Finland in the Semifinals and is headed to play Turkey in the EuroBasket Finals. Germany won the game 98-86, and Wagner played a huge role in the win. Wagner had 22 points, five rebounds, and two assists in the win. 

This is the sixth 20+ point game that Wagner has had in the last eight tournament games. This kind of production should have Magic fans optimistic about their chances next season. 

If this EuroBasket run is just a glimpse of what Wagner might do during the NBA regular season, the Magic will have a great chance at competing for the Eastern Conference crown. 

Can Franz and Team Germany continue their dominant tournament run? Or will Turkey, who are led by another young NBA star, Alperen Sengun, pull off the upset? Right now, Germany is certainly the favorite to win it all, but Sengun may be the best player in the tournament. 

If Franz can rise to the occasion, he and the deeper, more experienced German team should be able to take the crown.