Fritz Wagner is picked eighth during the NBA Draft.
Many NBA enthusiasts stayed up past their bedtime to witness the selection of new talent. In Germany, a specific level of interest was given to 19-year-old Fritz Wagner, who is at present participating in the Olympics with the German team. Wagner was picked eighth overall by the Orlando Magic, outshining even our most esteemed player "Dirk Nowitzki."
Delving deeper into Franz Wagner, the German small forward
Let's take a closer look at this 2.05-meter-tall small forward before he takes the stage in the NBA. Wagner was born in Berlin in 2001, and his career first began in the city's Alba Berlin team. Wagner then moved on to the NCAA via an additional intermediate stage.
Wagner played at the University of Michigan, where he was chosen as the eighth pick by the Orlando Magic in the draft. Nowitzki, even he, was merely picked ninth. The University of Michigan has previously launched several professional sports athletes. The most notable examples are Tom Brady and Michael Phelps.
The Wagner brothers are both in the league
Interestingly, the Wagner family also includes another basketball player, Franz's brother Moritz (Moe) Wagner. Since 2021, his brother has been playing for the Orlando Magic alongside him. After stints with the Lakers, Washington Wizards, and Boston Celtics, Moritz's senior brother has now joined the popular Orlando team.
He made his mark during the college season
As soon as Franz started playing at the University of Michigan, he initially had to sit on the sidelines due to a wrist injury. Nevertheless, the young German soon evolved into one of his team's key players. In his debut college season, he racked up 11.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, which exceeded his brother's numbers.
Wagner participated in 28 competitive games during the 2020/21 season and averaged 12.5 points per game. He was his team's third-highest scorer. He additionally averaged 6.5 rebounds, which was the second-best figure among his teammates.
The 2021 NBA draft - a detailed account
As expected, the NBA draft began with Cade Cunningham getting the #1 pick by the Detroit Pistons. This choice was deemed unsurprising given the high expectations for the youngster, who is cited as a possible future great on the level of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Allen Iverson.
There were few notable surprises among the first-round selections that night. The first five players were all Americans, and Wagner was picked eighth, despite advanced predictions that the 19-year-old had little chance of being a top choice.
Uncovering the hits and misses of the past draft picks
There is generally a loser after the draft, but there are also winners. In every American sport, new talent is distributed to the major clubs, and it's worth understanding where the stars and duds have emerged from.
The unsung heroes who rose from the second round
There's not always a need for a first-round pick to make a team shine. The second round regularly produces talented players who are often overlooked and considered unlikely top stars.
A notable example is Toni Kukic. Fans adore Nikola Jokic, who has earned top playmaker accolades. Despite this, Kukic was only the eleventh player to be selected in the 2020 NBA draft's second round.
In 1986, the flamboyant Dennis Rodman was chosen as the third pick in the second round. Despite being known for his scandals and antics, Rodman stood out on the court and became a legend.
Mistakes can happen in the top-tier selections
Players picked in the first round on the threshold of greatness don't always adjust well to the pressure, often resulting in utter disappointment.
In 2007, Greg Oden was hailed as one of the best young basketball players of all time. Unfortunately for him, he was marred by terrible luck with injuries and is now remembered as one of the worst signings of all time.
In 2013, the Cleveland Cavaliers drafted "Anthony Bennett" with the first pick. While Bennett underwhelmed, Giannis, the second overall pick that year, went on to secure the championship for the team.
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