We don't know who will be the next Yao Ming, but the answer to the new generation of German tanks has already appeared in front of the eyes of German fans. If Little Black Schroeder is the lower limit of the German men's basketball team, the one who can determine the ceiling of Germany's golden generation must be Franz Wagner.
Wagner Jr. comes from a sports family, his father is a handball player, his mother plays tennis and swimming, and he has an older brother named Moritz Wagner, who entered the NBA three years before him. Both currently play for the Magic.
Wagner Jr. joined the Bundesliga academy at the age of 7 and was promoted to the Berlin first team at the age of 16 and won the league's Rookie of the Year. He was praised by the German media as the best German player after Nowitzki. At this time, Wagner also ushered in an important choice point, whether to sign a high-paying contract extension with a domestic club, or go out to accept an invitation from a prestigious American basketball school.
At this time, his older brother Big Wagner had passed the NBA draft and successfully joined the NBA giants Lakers with the 25th pick in the first round. The University of Michigan heard that Wagner Sr. had a younger brother who was even more talented, so they recruited him in the hope that Wagner Jr. could come to the United States to play. Feeling bad, the Berlin team immediately offered Wagner Jr. a new contract that could not be refused, which not only paid a good salary, but also provided commercial endorsements and was written into the fine print. If he chooses to study and play in the United States, Wagner Jr. cannot have any other income in addition to scholarships. But the dreams of teenagers are not tainted by the world, and little Wagner still wants to go out and break through.
When I first arrived in a foreign country, things really didn't go so well. Freshman wrist fracture and weight loss of 10 pounds due to severe flu. It wasn't until the second half of the season that Wagner Jr. gradually adapted to the rhythm of the game. In his freshman season, he handed in a report card of 11.6 points and 5.6 rebounds, and was selected to the best rookie team in the Masters League.
After the freshman season, many agents approached the door and blew up their draft prospects. But little Wagner did not lose himself in the praise, and he asked his brother to help consult many professionals. The answer is that if you go to the draft this year, you probably won't be able to make it to the first round. Not making it to the first round in the NBA Draft means not being developed by the team. Wagner Jr. immediately chose to play for another year, and Wagner Jr. in his sophomore season has been perfectly integrated into the system of American school teams. The performance on the field is like a fish in water. This time he participated in the draft and ranked eighth in high school.
Now this season is Wagner Jr.'s third year of journey, averaging 20.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game to become the core of the team, along with the champion Banchero, is considered by Magic fans to help the team's revival. Wagner Jr.'s growth in the NBA has also given back to the national team, helping the German team win the bronze medal in the European Championship in 22 years, and the German team won all 8 games in the men's basketball World Cup to reach the top of the world, which is also the first time that the German men's basketball team has won the World Cup. Talent is important, but so is the environment that matches it, and only by having the courage to step out of the greenhouse and take on new challenges can you meet a better version of yourself.