Magic SF Franz Wagner 'A Special Player', Says Paolo Banchero
ORLANDO - The Orlando Magic is back on top after a 117-110 win against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The win gave the Magic its 17th win of the season just before Christmas. A year ago, the Magic grabbed its 17th win on Jan. 20, a sign that the team has improved tremendously.
Part of that improvement has been in large part due to Franz Wagner and his development going into his third NBA campaign.
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"The responsibility he carries game in and game out ... speaks a lot to how good of a player he is," Paolo Banchero said postgame. "And then just his ability to produce at the way that he does.
"The great thing about Franz is ... he just wants to win. That's what makes him such a special player."
Wagner's success kind of goes hand-in-hand with the team's success. When Wagner scores 17 or more points, the Magic is 16-4. When he scores 16 or less, the team is just 1-7. This includes his 24-point performance in Saturday's win against the Indiana Pacers.
Wagner has been a major key to the Magic's rebuild and will continue to be an important piece towards Orlando's development in the years to come. If he continues at the rate that he's been progressing, the Magic should find itself in the contender conversation sooner rather than later.
Wagner and the Magic will take off for Christmas but return to the court on Tuesday when the team visits the Washington Wizards. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
