Franz Wagner

In a must-win matchup in which Franz Wagner kept making the Cleveland Cavaliers’ defense aware of his presence, the Orlando Magic star’s most demonstrative sequence, appropriately, required a brief disappearance. Red-hot and aggressive in his first quarter approach, the Orlando Magic star keeps his head of steam generated with an off-ball cut, setting him up for a race to the rim with Georges Niang blocking his path. Searching through his toolbox for an elusive move, Wagner vanishes entirely with a blistering-quick spin move, leaving Niang floor-bound before finishing the jaw-dropping exhibit with a smooth floater, capping off a nine-point opening quarter demonstration. Wagner’s captivating display in creating separation effectively told the story of Orlando’s series-tying Game Four victory, with the Magic using a 37-10 barrage in the third quarter to carve out a runaway, blowout victory on April 27, 2024. With a national audience tuned in to see the Magic’s young stars on the big stage, Wagner responded with emphasis, elevating his game for 34 points — on a remarkable 13 of 17 from the field — paired with a career-best 13 rebounds, four assists, one block, two 3-pointers, and a game-high +32 plus-minus on the stat sheet.