Franz Wagner

It was a long night, Gordon Herbert said on Saturday afternoon in Japan, and seemed visibly more relaxed than the night before. The national basketball coach was supposed to answer questions about Franz Wagner’s condition and didn’t really know how. The 21-year-old NBA professional twisted his ankle in the last quarter of the 81-63 win over Japan in the opening game of the World Cup against co-hosts Japan and was taken to the hospital before the end of the game. In addition to captain Dennis Schröder, Wagner is the key player in the game of the German team, his departure would be a bad weakening.

At least that can be ruled out, team doctor Oliver Pütz gave the all-clear. Although the images of the MRI examination from the clinic are still missing, which would give definitive information about the severity of the injury, however: “We will only get the CD with the images this afternoon, but it is not an injury that will end the World Cup for would mean him.”

Wagner had been treated until four in the morning, but the team doctor’s first task was of a moral nature. The Orlando Magic professional was badly devastated after his mishap, Wagner hobbled off the field and desperately banged his fist on a chair. Apparently he had feared his World Cup exit at that moment. But already in the hospital the highly talented laughed again and the day after that the world looked friendlier again.

Of course, Pütz didn’t want to answer whether Wagner can take part in the important game against Australia on Sunday, on the one hand important information was missing and on the other hand the decision was not made solely by the medical department of the German Basketball Association (DBB).

“It gives other players opportunities,” says coach Gordon Herbert, if Wagner doesn’t get fit in time

Although Herbert said that “Franz always wants to play”, his employer will have a say. The Orlando Magic have sent an athletic trainer and physiotherapist to Okinawa for the Wagner brothers, including Moritz, 26, who plays for the NBA club from Florida, who is in constant contact with the club’s medical department. “That will be decided in the team,” said DBB team doctor Pütz, “but they know that we won’t take any risks.” The cooperation with the club is good, says Pütz, he took a picture of the screen while he was still in the hospital and sent it to Orlando, “there wasn’t a CD yet. But they’re very relaxed in Orlando.”

In any case, everything will be done for a quick recovery, because the game against the Australians, who outclassed the Finns with 98:72 points in their first game, should already decide about first place in group E. A win would be important, because the points from the preliminary round will be taken into the main round, in which the first two teams of group F with favorite Slovenia are waiting.

Co-captain Johannes Voigtmann spoke of a setback for the team if Wagner didn’t get fit by then: “We have big goals here and he plays a decisive role in our plans. But if it doesn’t work, others have to take a step forward make.” That also worked at the EM after the injuries to Moritz Wagner and Isaac Bonga: “That’s how we are set up, that was our strength at the EM, it should be like that again, we are broadly positioned.”

Coach Herbert sees it similarly: “If he’s not there, the other players have more opportunities to play and take responsibility. That’s the other side of the coin.”

2023-08-26 08:36:00


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