OKC Thunder: Shakeup at the top of TI’s week 7 rookie ladder
No. 4 – Franz Wagner – Orlando Magic
The Magic forward makes a return to the top five after an impressive week seven. Orlando played three games with Franz Wagner making a big jump in scoring averaging 19.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, five assists, and two blocks.
His best game featured a 27 point performance against the 76eers but the Magic lost the match. Of the three games his lowest scoring night came versus the Nuggets but that was also the lone win for the Magic in week seven.
Rookie category rankings:
- Field Goals Made: 5.2 – three-way tie for third
- Minutes per game: 31.6 – third
- Steals: 1.1 – four-way tie for third
- 3-pointers made: 1.4 – fifth
- Points: 13.6 – fifth
- Offensive rebounds: 1.3 – sixth
- Rebounds: 4.3 – seventh
- Assists: 2.6 – seventh
- Blocks: 0.5 – ninth
- Field Goal Percent: 43.6%
- 3-point percentage: 36.6%
Part of the appeal of Wagner is he projects to be a quality 3 and D performer and the Denver match highlighted that fact. He only attempted one perimeter shot but hit it and added three rebounds, dished five assists, collected three steals, plus a block.
Despite checking off all the stat boxes the point was he added value in areas where Jamahl Mosley needed him to perform.
His value was recognized via a plus-eight in the win and while the Nuggets were road-weary and shorthanded it didn’t take away from his role in the win.