Magic Lose Moe Wagner to Torn ACL for Remainder of Season

The Orlando Magic's backup center was in the midst of a career season. Now, Moe Wagner will undergo surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee, ending his 2024-25 season.

Orlando Magic center Moe Wagner (21) reacts in the second quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum. / Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

ORLANDO, Fla. – An MRI on Sunday confirmed that Orlando Magic center Moe Wagner has a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. He will undergo surgery and miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season.

ESPN's Shams Charania was first to break the news, which the team then confirmed.

The Magic have somehow fashioned an 18-12 record despite losing their two leading scorers — each with torn oblique muscles — to extended down time. Paolo Banchero, out since Oct. 30, has begun light workouts but still has no timetable for a return. Franz Wagner, injured on Dec. 5, faces at least two more weeks of enforced rest before he is reevaluated.

And now the Magic lose Franz's brother Moe, their fourth-leading scorer.

In the first quarter of Orlando's win over the Miami Heat on Saturday, Wagner jump-stopped as he prepared to rise for a shot attempt, but his left knee gave out and he collapsed on the Kia Center floor.

Wagner tried to get up but couldn't. He shook his head toward the Magic bench. prompting Orlando to call a timeout. One by one, his teammates, coaches, and Orlando's medical staff huddled over him.

He was eventually carried off the court by teammates Jonathan Isaac and Jalen Suggs.

MORE: 'It Was For Moe': How the Magic pulled together and rallied to victory despite Wagner's loss

Wagner, 27, was in the midst of a career season coming off the Magic bench. The 6-foot-10 German big had appeared in all 30 of Orlando's games, averaging 12.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in roughly 19 minutes a game. He shot 56.2 percent from the field.

As of Dec. 22, Wagner ranked second in the NBA for total points off the bench and 15th in field goal percentage. Wagner led or tied Orlando in scoring once and in rebounding four times this season, scoring in double figures 23 times. He posted a career-high 32 points on Dec. 15 vs. New York.

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