Franz Wagner enjoying first NBA All-Star Weekend experience, looking to return next year

CLEVELAND, OH - FEBRUARY 18: Franz Wagner #22 of Team Barry high fives Evan Mobley #4 of Team Barry during the 2022 Clorox Rising Stars Game as part of 2022 NBA All Star Weekend on February 18, 2022 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

By Antigoni Zachari / info@eurohoops.net

Orlando Magic rookie forward Franz Wagner got a taste of his first NBA All-Star Weekend experience while lifting Team Barry to win the Rising Stars Challenge.

His role in the final may have been limited (he picked up 6 points across both Friday games), but he came up clutch to hand his team the win with a free throw after getting fouled by G League’s Jaden Hardy on a layup.

“That was cool”, Wagner told reporters about winning the game for Team Barry. “It was cool how we got together in such a short time and I definitely had a lot of fun”. 

The 20-year-old German got to collaborate with legendary coaching figure Rick Barry for the event, and he shared the piece of advice he’s learned from the Hall of Famer. “It was really all just to have fun and compete out there”, Wagner stated.

Under the revamped format, Wagner would be able to compete in the Rising Stars challenge again next year, while he’s also looking forward to making it to more All-Star Weekend activities, namely the All-Star Game.

“Yeah, definitely” [about his desire to return next year]. “I thought that was a lot of fun and the coolest part was that I got to meet with so many cool people that are a big part of the NBA community”.

 

Photo credit: Getty Images

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