The name Franz Wagner might still not be familiar to casual basketball fans, but that should change over the next year or so.

The 24-year-old forward is once again suiting up for Germany, this time in the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 tournament. Germany is undefeated through its first six games and their latest victory over Portugal–an 85-58 blowout–earned them a spot in the quarterfinals.

Wagner is the team’s top scorer in this tournament (20.7 points per game) and has emerged as their best all-around player. He leads the team in efficiency (23.8) and rebounding (5.5) while he is also in the top three in assists (3.8) and steals (1.5).

They actually trailed Portugal at halftime by 11, 32-21, and it was Wagner who kept them close despite their overall struggles. He wound up finishing with 16 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and a steal. The Germans took control of the game in the fourth quarter where they outsourced Portugal by 26, 33-7.

Germany is no stranger to success on the international stage, having won the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Dennis Schroder was named the tourney’s Most Valuable Player while Wagner made it to the All-FIBA World Cup Second Team. 

With Schroder now in his 30s, the passing of the torch from him to Wagner seems to be underway for Germany. This team is firing on all cylinders this summer and it looks like they are in a prime position to add this year’s EuroBasket gold to their trophy case with Wagner likely in the running for a major individual award.

The emergence of Wagner not only bodes well for Germany, but for his professional club, the Orlando Magic, too. Orlando is looking to finally make it out of the first round of the playoffs for the first time in over a decade this coming NBA season. Wagner and Paolo Banchero are growing into a formidable one-two punch and should soon earn their place as one of the best in the league.

If not for a torn oblique last season that forced him to miss time from early December to late January—the most crucial period for NBA All-Star voting—Wagner would have likely made his All-Star debut last February. He wound up finishing the season with career-highs across the board, averaging 24.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.3 steals in 60 games. 

Barring another injury, it is more likely than not that he is going to finally become an All-Star this coming NBA season—the first of what should be many selections over the course of his career. The momentum from this EuroBasket run will only help propel him further and grow into the star that he can be.

The bulk of the NBA’s biggest stars are already players from Europe and soon enough, Wagner’s name is going to be up there—or at least just a tier below—with the likes of Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.