Franz Wagner’s Star Performance is Channeling ’93-94 Pippen Vibes

You might assume that after witnessing LeBron James’ unique style of play for the past six seasons—his selfless brilliance and occasional transformation into a forceful playmaker to get the job done—the Lakers announcers would have had a clear understanding of Franz Wagner’s impact on Thursday night.

However, during what would become a career game for Wagner, as he fought to keep his Orlando Magic within striking distance on the road, play-by-play announcer Bill Macdonald and longtime Lakers analyst Stu Lantz could only focus on his high dribbling volume, how the offense seemed centered around him, and their doubts about its sustainability. They seemed to overlook the effectiveness of Wagner’s drives, which consistently led to valuable paint touches, or his efficiency as a pull-up shooter.

Moreover, Wagner has been playing the best basketball of his career in the absence of Magic star Paolo Banchero, emerging as one of the league’s top two-way players for a Magic team that has won seven of its last eight games.

Perceptions shape understanding. Macdonald and Lantz failed to recognize what was right in front of them: a budding star, confident and capable of competing head-to-head with the Lakers’ more familiar faces. They simply didn’t view Wagner in that way.

Then came the moment of complete transformation: a daring 26-foot step-back 3-pointer with just three seconds left in the game. It was a statement play, brimming with confidence and poise. No hesitation, no fear. Just the perfect player, in the perfect moment, in the exact spot he was meant to be. Wagner finished with 37 points on 50-40-87.5 shooting splits, along with six rebounds, 11 assists, and four steals in a 119-118 Magic win. At 23, Wagner became the youngest forward to post a 35-point, 10-assist game since… LeBron, naturally.

“He’s a young man who wants to do everything the right way—by the game of basketball, through his work ethic, his professionalism, and as a teammate,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley remarked after the game. “Sometimes, taking difficult shots isn’t something he wants to do. He just wants to make the right play. But sometimes, those tough shots are exactly what the team needs, and we saw that tonight.”