March 21, 2024 • 32 mins
Franz Wagner joins Dante, George and Jake to discuss the ceiling for this young Magic team, seeing his brother break out this year, playing with Paolo Banchero and why playing every night is important to him.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
On this edition of Orlando Magic Pod Squad, we catch
up with none other than Franz Wagner in his third
NBA season. He's having a career year and we can't
wait to catch up with Franz Magic fans afford. The
Department of Transportation reminds you, fans, don't let fans drive drunk.
If you've been drinking, don't get behind the wheel. Instead,
find a sober driver or catch a ride service. Remember,
(00:23):
drive sober or get pulled over. A great night and
drive safe.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
On this edition of Magic Pod Squad, we discussed Fronz
and his patented finishes at the rim, how he's able
to get to the basket, how he was able to
finish in the painted area, the incredible season that his
brother Mo Wagner is having, the one to two combination
of Polo and Franz, and how good can this Orlando
Magic team be. We get all kinds of thoughts from
(00:48):
Franz Bagner on this special edition of Magic Pod Squad.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Doesn't spawns long enough. They' Orlando Magic. This is col Anthony,
mister Jennings Suggs, this is.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Paulo man Carroll, the Orlando Magic and you're listening to
the Pod Squad.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
And walk remember one to another edition of Orlando Magic
Pod Squad Dante Marctelly, Jet Chapman George Delante and we
are joined by Magic third year man Franz Wagner kind
enough to join us here.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
We're having a terrific season. At the time of this taping,
the Magic forty one and twenty eight getting ready for
game three of their season long eight game homestand and Frons,
I just got to ask you. I don't know what
the weather is typically like this time of year in Berlin,
or what it's like in ann Arbor, but how about
the this weather in city?
Speaker 3 (01:32):
Beautiful homeline goodness? Right?
Speaker 1 (01:33):
I mean, how great has this been for it?
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Oh? It's so great, memo. We talk about it daily, honestly,
how good the weather is. We obviously compare it to
back home. When we talked to all parents, they're always
always super jealous when we're on FaceTime. We showed him,
showed them while sunny it is out here, What.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Do you like to do? So what would be the
what would be the ideal day? I know we talked
to Mo one day as he was driving out to
the beach, But what would be your ideal day and
on a with wether like this, I like the beach.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
But honestly, just sit by the pool and enjoy the weather.
And then and the ideal day is I just got
a sauna, So then the new thing is rub before
I go to sleep, I go at the sauna for
fifteen twenty minutes and then I'm pretty much knocked right
out after that.
Speaker 5 (02:24):
So yeah, that'll fall asleep in the sauna. Now, that's
not good for you.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
No, no, no, I won't do that. I won't do that.
I'll make sure not to do that.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Isn't it nice to be beach ready? I haven't been
beach ready for forty years?
Speaker 3 (02:36):
Right?
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Isn't it nice to just get right out there? It'd
be ready for the beach. That must be nice. Well, Frouz,
let us know you got Magic fans that are super
pumped about this season. I know you're excited about what's
happening right now. Can you feel the buzz and the
electricity in this town right now about about what's happening
here with the Magic?
Speaker 3 (02:55):
Definitely? I think that's that's a huge port of our
assignment as a group too, that we can feel that,
you know, when you're just walking around or something like that.
More and more people recognize that just just thank you
for the efforts and stuff like that. I think that's
that's a super cool part of it, and obviously we
want to make sure we keep that going and keep
going as a team, and yeah, to do that for
(03:17):
the next couple of years.
Speaker 5 (03:19):
You actually stole my question because I was going to
ask you, have you been noticing when you're out do
more people? Are they noticing you now? Are they? I
don't know what it was like before. I don't know
what it was like your rookie year or even your
second year, like are you walking around town? And then
everybody goes, holy crap. I think that's Franz Wagner, like,
are you getting some of that a little bit?
Speaker 3 (03:38):
It's it's honestly not too bad, which I'm a little
happied about. Honestly, I like, well around and just just
be a no long person too. But I think now
now it's more like people are so excited to come
up and say, hey, you guys are playing so great,
love what you rather do. And I think that part
is obviously reassuring, and yeah, keeps you motivating, I would say,
(04:03):
is this.
Speaker 6 (04:03):
The most fun you've ever had playing basketball? Oh, in
the end, I last summer, I know, last summer. I know,
last nummer important, But yeah, I think.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Yeah, I think I think it's a similar vibe though
that we're that we're creating here, and I think it's
it's a lot harder to do in a long season
like we are having, you know, to have a group
stay connected like that and everybody is totally locked in
on the team. Yeah, but the national team, Like I said,
I think there's a lot of parallels that that I
would draw in terms of it together and is and
(04:41):
roles being the fine and everybody really growing together as
a group. I think that's what's most fun. I think
about our group, that we're so young and that we
kind of grew as as a group together and you know,
we kind of ripping the benefits of that, I think,
And I think that's I think to me, that's a
cool was part having been with these guys and been
(05:03):
through tough times and with these guys as well, And
like I said, I think now we're enjoyed, you know,
kind of the end of that and hopefully we can
in finish the season strong. Amen to that.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
You know, Franz, I'm watching the Cavs and Heats. I
could care less about either of those two teams. And
I'm watching those games, watching the Pacers and the Bowl.
I mean, I'm watching them all. Are you getting caught up?
And I know you don't look past your opponent. I
know you're not looking ahead by any means, but are
you watching to see what the other teams do? Because
it affects you in the standings, for sure.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
But more so I would say watching in terms of
like playoff preparation and really getting to know these teams
obviously that we're competing with and that we're in the
playoff race with. And I think the bigest thing is
what you said though, that you know we were in
a win a situation where we can control our own destiny,
(05:55):
and I think that's a that's a super super cool
thing far as as a young and how we do
that is just stay focused on us. And obviously I
think everybody looks at the standing as every once in
a while, and no, I think if we keep doing
our job like we out there and we're have a
good shot on getting a good playoff spot.
Speaker 5 (06:17):
How have you guys been able to do that front
to just focus on the on the now. I think
you guys are doing a really good job of not,
like you said, not getting too far ahead and not
looking at other opponents like you really, you guys are
really focused on Okay, tomorrow night we play New Orleans
and that's what we're focused on, and that's all we're doing,
and we're not looking at anything else. How hard has
(06:37):
it been to block out, you know, all of the
other stuff which which comes with with success, all the
people and the requests and this and that. How How
have you guys been able to focus on that?
Speaker 1 (06:49):
I think it.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
Starts with coach Moseley. Honestly, I think that's a huge
jumping service and most of his talk and pregame speeches
and stuff like that, and I think that is it's
a credit to everybody on the team just individually locking
in and knowing what the what the task at handled was,
what the goal is. So I think for us to
stay focused, everybody needs that same approach. At the same time,
(07:13):
I think it's cool that that was still having fun
with it and using these games to get better and
also learn from the you know, I think the New
York game, the Indiana game. What big learning lessons for us?
And I think it's it's a big credit to the
team that we learned from those games and get better
and you know, not overlooked that other thing that's not
important anything like that. But I think everybody's aware that,
(07:35):
you know, thirteen games or something like that left, so
we'll make those counts.
Speaker 6 (07:41):
I wanted to ask you something similar about you specifically.
I was listening to an old pod with you with
Duncan Robinson. I think it was after your rookie year,
and you talked about how sometimes in game you want
to clear your head, like you got almost too much
going on and you're and you're thinking about maybe the
last play, and that is that something? And I think
obviously you probably improved in that regard just based on
(08:01):
the way you've improved performance wise in three seasons now.
Is that something that can only be fixed with reps
and with time and experience, or is it something that
you focus on kind of your mental approach to the
game as the season wears on.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Yeah, I think I think it's one of those things.
You know, it doesn't always get easier to mental side
of it. You know, obviously you want to get better
and strive to do that. But as you get older,
your expectations get higher and stuff like that, and I think,
you know, get the game and inside of your head,
it's sometimes the toughest part. And I think I think
(08:36):
that's a huge part of being an NBA player or
being just in those high pressure pressure moments that I
think everybody kind of has to figure that out for themselves.
And obviously there's resources that we have with the team
and people you can talk to and stuff like that.
But I know for me, sometimes it's good to get
away from the game, you know, do something that's not
(08:57):
related to it, and so then I can come back
and really focus on it. And then there's different stuff
in the game, just like taking deep breaths or meditating
before game. Stuff like that I think that I like
to do. But like I said, I think everybody kind
of has to figure it out out their own way.
But I think it's it's good to acknowledge that that's
(09:18):
a that's a huge part of playing basketball at a
high level and doing that consistently over a long time.
So I think that's something maybe that's not obviously it's
not easy to see us, you know, guys warming up
before the game or stretching and the obvious audio recovery stuff.
I think the mental side of the sport is uh yeah,
(09:38):
just as much much a thing.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
It's great, we're learned so much more about that. Here's
bet Jalen's been outspoken about that as well, how much
he's he's benefited from that. You know, you when you
watch the way you play and the way you finish.
You pick up the basketball, you're in the paint, you're
making your move. Somebody goes right, you go left, they
go left, you go right. You have an ability to
get around them, you can finish. You you can see
(10:01):
the defender in front of you, the one that's coming.
You're able to finish. How does one practice that? You know,
when you put in all this time and all this
work and you have such incredible footwork and you're able
to finish falling away, flipping it up a high off
the glass, how do you possibly practice all of that? Fronts?
Speaker 3 (10:20):
Well, obviously I didn't. I didn't do that stuff just
the first time I've picked up a basketball. I think,
right right, I think the visiost thing is having the
base stics right and doing those being able to do
those just you know, kind of in your sleep and
having those habits, right, and then nowadays it's you know,
we do a lot of random stuff where the coach
(10:42):
throws me about like in the last second, gives me
a pointer of how I should finish, if it's high,
if it's with the left hand off two feet, so
different stuff like that to kind of simulate what happens
in the game. We adjust in the last second. So
I would say we do a lot of a lot
of those kind of awkward finishes maybe that that are
(11:05):
sometimes doing the game. But honestly, a big part of
my game is also focusing on, you know, those moments
where it's maybe be good to go through a defender.
I think it's it's cool to play with someone like
Polo who h you know, has that down in the
second year, or whether you know, getting to the free
throw line, finding contact to create angles and stuff like that.
(11:26):
So that's that's how I look at it. I think
those those finages are super cool, but sometimes the best
thing is to create a better angle bay not just
going around people, like going going through the defender. Good point.
Speaker 5 (11:38):
So when you are are you watching a lot of
film to to figure out different ways that you can
finish and get to the rim because obviously if you
you know, you're at eighty five eighty six percent re
throw shooter, so it would benefit you to get to
the line as much as possible, right for sure.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
Yeah, that's that's a huge, uh point of emphasis in
my workouts when I watch them with coaches or by myself,
or when I'm just watching a random game at night.
You know, those those players kind of in the stick
came ahead a little bit more aware. I see something
that I talked about with the coaches that day. So yeah,
(12:16):
that's definitely something I try to focus on. It's not
it's not the natural thing for me, so it's it
takes a little bit to implement that in my game
and get better at it. But I think that that's
part of it. It's part of getting better, and I
enjoy those those challenges.
Speaker 5 (12:32):
Honestly, does a coach come to you at any point
and say, hey, listen, I saw so and so do this.
Can let's try this and then you you you try
to to add and move into into your your repertoire
a little bit.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
Yeah, that kind of happened the OLLA days, UH coach
coach one to send me a clip of brandon Ingram,
you know, finding contact as he as he's going in
the basket. So yeah, it can It can be any
type of situation. Maybe preparing for a scout they see
a clip and they send it to me, or stuff
like that. You know, we got a great coaching stuff
(13:07):
that I don't know. I was very aware of what
the players are wanting to get better and what they
need to get better at it. I think that's such
a huge part of all.
Speaker 6 (13:15):
Program sometimes, like your brother says, you just got to
bang your head through the wall, right exactly.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
That's the most small thing ever. Yeah, it's my favorite.
Speaker 6 (13:28):
I think it's my favorite.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
What is it?
Speaker 6 (13:30):
How gratifying has it been for you to watch him
this year? Kind of harness that energy?
Speaker 1 (13:36):
Right?
Speaker 6 (13:36):
For those of us who have watched every game that
he's played in Magic uniform, we know how important he
is bringing the juice. I call him on the radio
broadcast the juice Bringer, and the nickname admittedly needs work, but.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
Yeah you might want to work shop.
Speaker 5 (13:50):
Yeah, yeah, that one sucks, by the way.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
I mean, it's not that bad. He brings the news.
I don't know how to describe the match, but shorter.
First of all, it's gotta be.
Speaker 6 (13:59):
It has to have been fun, friends, and and gratifying
and rewarding to watch a brother kind of thread that
needle where he's still himself, he's still being the bringer
of the juice and bringing that energy, but but he's
able to sort of scale it back at times and
not hurt the team. It's us. It's a fine line
(14:19):
to walk at times, but he's he's now on it
this year, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Man, that's a huge compliment. I would say, I think
that's awesome that from somebody that watches every game that
says that, because I know it's a lot. Uh, it's
something that he focuses on a lot, and it puts
a lot of work in and like you said, it's
it's not easy to do, you know, to to bring
those intangibles every game and and and bring like you said,
(14:46):
the juice every game without maybe going a little a
little bit too far. So I'm I'm super proud just
as a as a brother seeing his development and the
way he's carved themselves, you know, a role on a
really good NBA team, looking at how his career when
(15:09):
he you know, definitely wasn't developed the best cards. So
I think that's that's really cool for him. You know
that the path that he's taken and continues to take,
and obviously it's it's super cool to see that.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
Of course, what did he work on the most? I
mean for most of the year, he's the top ten
and field goal percentage top five and two point percentage,
he's he's top ten and points per game off cuts.
He has figured out how to get open right and
figured out that's a stands, that's a stat and he
can't and he's able to finish the magic of one
of the top hutting teams. And the guy we're talking
(15:42):
to is right there at the top as well. But
but far, he's figured out passing lanes, he's figured out
how to get open, and he's finishing this year right
with what What are some of the things that he
worked on to put himself in this position?
Speaker 3 (15:54):
I think I think if we would ask Small, I
think he would say, simplify this game a little bit.
I think he knows exactly what he's good at, what
he's really good at, and he tries to do that
as many times. He tries to do that as many
times as he can throughout the game. So I think
(16:16):
I think whether it's cutting, I think he's always been
a smart player, but you know, I think he has
these He simplified his game until the look when he
gets it then pick a role. He knows exactly what
he's looking at, what what his reads are. Obviously, I
think it also really helps you playing with someone like
Joe Ingles, where you know you're going to get the
(16:37):
ball of your open So I think that I think
their chemistry, especially in my second unit, so I think
has really helped him and was just a smart player
that knows where to be at what time. And yeah,
I think a huge part of our offense and of
our team Joe Ingles.
Speaker 1 (16:58):
Have you ever seen the player be so per active
that that doesn't bend at the waste? Have you ever
seen have you?
Speaker 2 (17:06):
Have you?
Speaker 1 (17:06):
Have you ever seen somebody that efficient? It's remarkable, right,
not blazing screen? You say, but he's but he's so
good out there.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
He is. I think, yeah, I think it's it's really
cool for obviously us young players to see how you
can manipulate the game and have a huge imputing game
without necessarily being the strongest, the fastest, or most athletic
out there. And you know, those are skills that are
super hard to learn, the stuff that he does every day,
(17:37):
and so it's cool to see that, and like I said,
it's really hard to implement in your own game and
and and learn it from it. It's definitely, it's definitely
really cool.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
Have you all seen the video, the Jumping Joe videos
by the way, when he when he had a fast
break and the entire bench was begging him to duck it.
Speaker 3 (17:56):
Yeah, oh yeah, that was the one that was the
one longer, that was the one. We've got to get
a better chance.
Speaker 5 (18:01):
Yeah, I don't think we are. I think I think
that was like Dayley's comment, I'm not sure you're gonna
see that one again.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
With all these analyst all star break.
Speaker 5 (18:09):
Yes, he should have been so you should have had
fresh legs.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
Yeah, exactly, so we'll see.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
That was just but there's all these videos of him
in Australia when he used to dunk on people all
the time. It was amazing because you got we gotta
find those It's it's pretty impressive.
Speaker 5 (18:25):
Well, speaking of fresh legs fronts, let take us back
to January. You have the ankle injury, right, and that
puts you out for eight or nine games. We've talked
privately Dante myself, Jake that when you came back, it
seemed like because you had played awesome. I mean, you
really didn't have a break right for two straight seasons
because you're playing with Germany and then the and then
that you're playing basically all eighty two games for the
(18:48):
Magic and then you're going right back to Team Germany again.
And then because we know one thing about you, if
you're healthy, you're gonna play. And so you've had two
straight years and then you had the ankle injury where
you missed nine games. We felt that when you came back,
like maybe that was a little bit of a blessing
in disguise because you even though you were hurt and
you had to reab, maybe that was a little bit
(19:08):
of a break for you. Did you feel that at
all or were you just chomping at the bit to
get back and the heck with this injury, I gotta
get back on the court.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (19:17):
I think I think that was one thing that I
mean one trying to thought that I had to stay
positive as I was injured. You know, you always try
to obviously make the most out of the situation. I think.
I think there's definitely some true to that. At the
same time, though, I think there's also a rhythm that
you get when you're when you're in season, and you
(19:38):
know when you're injured, you obviously kind of lose that
and it takes a little bit to get that back.
So but yeah, I think there's there's definitely some truth
to that, and most on anything, though, I was just
just happy to get back out there and luckily it
wasn't wasn't too bad of an injury.
Speaker 6 (19:55):
Is that the main thing, though, Franz. I mean, you
had an ankle and you mist eight games. Otherwise we're
talking about the games at the end of the year
that when the old team said, right, eighty seventy nine
games follow is the same way he's raining ankle last
year and he's played just about every game for two seasons.
And in today's day and age, we don't want to
get all into it, but it's rare to have guys
that play. Yeah, I pulled the numbers yesterday. You've been
(20:17):
available ninety four point three percent of the time in
the games you've been in the Magic uniform.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
Is it? Is it?
Speaker 6 (20:23):
About losing, because I know there's nights and days when
you wake up and you go, man, this is you know,
the hammy's bugging me or the calf is really sore.
Is it a matter of you just want to play
because you don't want to lose your rhythm?
Speaker 3 (20:34):
Is it?
Speaker 6 (20:35):
Is it just something that you've always just been programmed
that way. If I'm good to go, if I can
stand up, I'm gonna go play this game. What's that
mentality about?
Speaker 1 (20:46):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (20:47):
To me, it's like I would I would hate to
like look back and then be like, oh, I could
help the team, but like, no, I would hate to
have that like regret thought a little little bit after
the game when when if I if I wouldn't have played.
So if I for confident then I'm not going to
hurt myself or that I can help the team, then
(21:10):
you know, I don't see no reason why not to play.
I love playing. I love being out there with my teammates,
and I think there is there is uh you know,
I think what I just said with the rhythm, like
there is something to that when you when you don't
play it for a couple of days, you kind of
lose that a little bit and it might take a
couple of minutes in the next game. So I think
(21:31):
I think that can be a little bit more of that.
But I think it's also just cool to look back
and be able to say, you know, I fought through
those moments. And I think guys, guys take pride in
that to be able to play in most games. Yeah, no, there's.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
There's no question about it, you know. So for you
and Paulo Bancaro, it's only taken a year plus for
you guys to to be a lethal one two combo.
You would be the second pair of teammates in magic
history to average twenty points per game. Right, the others
are shocking, Petty, this would be the second time and
in magic history. Now you can throw the ball to
him without even looking, you know so well where he's
(22:06):
going to be at. Right, that was phenomenal last night.
By the way, he says, every time he gets stuck
he can bank on you cut into the basket at
the right time. Just how about that, uh that that
with that went two punch, that that you that you
guys have worked on together.
Speaker 3 (22:20):
Yeah, I think I think we're just both I think
smart players that love to play with their teammates. And
I think we're similar in our approach to the game
that we're very focused, but it's still very confident, and
I think I think just in that sense, we're very
(22:41):
similar in how we play. And then I just got
to say, it's pretty easy playing with someone like Carlow.
You know that that draws so much attention and at
the same time wants to play for his teammates. So
I think that's it's super impressive at his age what
he's doing. And no, I try to learn as much
from him as I can, and you know, and just
(23:04):
make the most out of the opportunity that I think
that's the That's the best way I can put it.
And I'm I think we're both well aware that we're
in a situation. No, we're we're really lucky where we have,
you know, teammates that are giving us a lot of
responsibility and trusting us in a lot of ways. And
(23:24):
I think both of us just just want to pay
that back.
Speaker 1 (23:28):
Who keeps you on your toes the most frouds is
it Cole playing with one shoe?
Speaker 3 (23:32):
Is it?
Speaker 1 (23:32):
Jalen taking the three? Is turning around? He doesn't even
have to see it go in but I saw that
that happened right in front of me, and I had
no idea didn't want me too.
Speaker 5 (23:39):
I was going to say the same thing. I watched
it and I just thought, well, that's a big shot.
We got this run going. I didn't notice until after
the game that he turned around.
Speaker 6 (23:47):
See I got that up on four that the whole thing.
Speaker 5 (23:52):
See it pays to be up that high. Jaje, you
could see that.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
And that's another juice Bringer, right, bringer of the Juice
and Jalen Suggs for sure, But there were that was
two guys. They got to be so much fun to
play with it. They each have different elements, but they
certainly can both keep you on your toes for sure.
They're excitable players to watch for sure.
Speaker 3 (24:09):
Now there's there's something everything that you know, I didn't
expect or never seen before. And yeah, just so that
I feel like we should you know, may be a
little bit more on TV than we have then, but
when we get to see that in the future. But
I think I think we have a farm group and
those two guys, for sure, they keep going with toes
(24:32):
and uh, I think that's I think it's a lot
a lit of crazy it's good for our tea.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
Yes, thank you.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
I think we think we definitely have that.
Speaker 5 (24:41):
Oh, we definitely have a little bit of crazy. There's
no doubt about that. You're also going to get all that.
You're also going to get all the attention you want
if you know, if this thing keeps going in the
right direction and and the playoffs are exactly all the
all the spotlight that you want. So I'm not I'm
not going to ask you to go back and talk
about the World Championships because I know you to do that.
I would like you to look forward to the Olympics
(25:05):
because that's going to be something that you and your
brother are gonna, I would assume, be chopping at the
bit to go do that this summer. The groups just
came out yesterday where I saw that Germany was with
let's see France, Japan and Latvia. Right, So are you guys?
I mean that the Olympics has to be a once
in a lifetime dream of you guys.
Speaker 3 (25:26):
Right, Well, for sure, I know Moe was able to
play in the last form but during COVID, so I
know he's very excited to have his first I guess
we're Olympic experience and for me to be the same
I think, not just a basketball part of it, but
just being part of that, you know, obviously super historic
(25:48):
event and be able to see the other sports too
and just catched the whole vibe. I think that's that's
what I'm really excited for. And it does it does
like it doesn't happen every every time for Germany to
be a part of that with the basketball team, So
we're really excited to go, uh, you know, meet again
as a team. We had an amazing time in the
(26:10):
last two years and hopefully we can build on that.
Oh yeah, just just being a part of that is
there's definitely something that you know, it's not a given
for us in Germany, so I'm going to enjoy every
second of it.
Speaker 5 (26:24):
I'd imagine that you have another group thread with with
your German national team members. Was did there was there
any chatter after the group just came out yesterday about
what do we think about this? What do we talk brands?
What did it anything? Or does it just you don't
really talk about it until you guys are all back together.
Speaker 3 (26:40):
I haven't talked to them and now the Latvia I
think Wavia still has to.
Speaker 5 (26:45):
Qualify, Yes, yep.
Speaker 3 (26:48):
Yeah, So we don't know exactly the fourth team, but
we know obviously Friends is going to be really tough
to play, and it's in France, so that should be
extra fun. And then we just played Japan last summer
too and wasn't an easy game at all. No, they
they they were very fast and a little on orthodox,
(27:10):
so I remember we had we had a sometimes a
hard time guarding them. So but yeah, I'm like I said,
for me right now, I haven't really paid too much
attention to the group or anything like that, but I
know I'm one of excited and and ready to go
hopefully in the summer.
Speaker 6 (27:28):
Does Dennis bring something extra when he plays you guys,
because he and this goes back before, this goes back
before you and Mo. But he's a I believe career
thirty four percent three point shooter and then against the
Orlando Magics, a forty career three point shooter did a
good job last time. But it always feels like, is there.
Do you guys have fun when you're out there with Dennis.
I'm sure you do.
Speaker 3 (27:48):
For sure we do, but that is uh, you know,
one of the best competitors I've I've ever played with,
so you know here he'll let you hear about it
in the game too. But yeah, it's I mean, obviously
Dennis is someone on looked up to as a young
German player and now playing together on the on the
(28:08):
national team, playing playing against each other in the NBA
is it's really cool for me And yeah, we definitely
have one with it during the games.
Speaker 1 (28:18):
Listen, I know you enjoyed the heck out of your
Michigan Wolverines winning the national championship in football. It's been
a heck of a season and and the basketball team
has had so much success and I know it's kind
of a shock to everybody. But uh, Juwan Howard, uh,
you know obviously meant so much to you. You got
to play for him, and we had him here for
a year in Orlando. What what What kind of guy is Juwan?
(28:39):
And I know a guy like that will we'll land
on his feet in no time. He did great things
with that Michigan program for sure.
Speaker 3 (28:48):
Yeah, obviously it's it's I never want to see that open,
especially someone like Juwan. No, I think it's it was
just two years for me in Michigan, but super impact
for experience and obviously Juan had had a major impact
on me. Still, a lot of the sayings that you
know that you always do stay they still, you know,
(29:10):
really head home with me today. And you know, I
had a huge impact, like I said, even even on
my career in the NBA now. And I think the
kind of guy that he is. I think everybody that
knows Juwan is at first like taken aback by how
nice he is and how easy it is to talk
to him, even though he's Juwan Howard. And you know,
(29:31):
he has the resume that he has. He he has
a way of really giving you the thing that that
he cares about you as a person. And I will
see that that with with his players, with with any
one of us players. So you know, I'm I'm always
really happy when when I get to see him. Yeah,
great dude, Great dude. I think a great coach, but
(29:53):
for sure an even even better person.
Speaker 1 (29:56):
All right, last thing, and I don't know if we
should leave this in Jake's hands with the Bringer the juice.
But we've got a nickname for Moboggner, so should we.
We're trying to find a nickname for Franz. You got
Frod's boogie, right, that started at Michigan. Do you like that?
Is that the nickname you prefer? Is it? That's the
one you want to go with? Franz Boogie.
Speaker 3 (30:12):
I don't mind that one. I think I think that's
the one that stuck the most from now. But yeah,
I'm definitely definitely not opposed to it.
Speaker 1 (30:21):
Yeah, right, the Berlin Baller has been a good one,
right that. I think that's that's pretty Yeah, what voting
around not as much?
Speaker 5 (30:31):
Yeah, Superheroes's not liking that one.
Speaker 3 (30:34):
Fine, Yeah, it was like it looks like there's there's
a more Berlin Ballers, you know what I mean. I
don't know. I don't know if people will know right
away that that's me.
Speaker 5 (30:42):
So Dante's saying you're the Berlin.
Speaker 3 (30:47):
I appreciate it that.
Speaker 1 (30:48):
I appreciate that I didn't start. I say, it's the
ones that I've seen. I'm just looking. I mean, I'm
always curious which one because it doesn't stick. If the
person doesn't like it, you gotta like it first.
Speaker 6 (31:00):
And yeah, Boogie Boogie fits. I emailed Chris Hunter just
to see exactly where Boogie came from, and it's it's
it's where it's where we all think it came from
you're super he said. He was super smooth and crappy
out there on the court, almost like he was dancing.
Speaker 1 (31:15):
And it's the word boogie.
Speaker 6 (31:16):
I think it's perfect. It makes it makes perfect.
Speaker 3 (31:17):
There you go. See, all right, I know that Chris
definitely came up with that. It was just one day,
just randomly. But it's cool when you get a nickname,
you know, that's when you that's when you really feel
a part of off the group and everybody calls you.
That's the cool feeling.
Speaker 5 (31:34):
So I like that one.
Speaker 1 (31:36):
And we're glad to see you back on Twitter. I
think fans were excited. They could they it was your
first tweet in two years last night. That was exciting.
Speaker 5 (31:43):
Did you drop one last night? I didn't see it.
Speaker 3 (31:46):
Yeah, yeah, I did.
Speaker 5 (31:47):
Brought you to Twitter last night. I didn't even see it.
Speaker 3 (31:49):
It was uh, it was for top Shot, you know,
trying to get some more you know people on top
Shot and okay, I'm on top myself, so.
Speaker 5 (32:02):
You try to get your lock.
Speaker 3 (32:05):
Exactly all right, Well, last night's thunk I think I
reposted and yeah, I hope I hope thatll On lands
on Top Shot. Maybe maybe gets a good's a nice moment.
Speaker 1 (32:17):
Okay, all right, absolutely, we'll be following the progress, Frods.
Speaker 3 (32:20):
This is great.
Speaker 1 (32:21):
We really appreciate you taking the time to join us.
It's electric in this town and we can't wait to
see what lies ahead. Thirteen games left and you've clinched
at least to play in. But I know that's not
the goal. That's the first step, but you got more
work to do, and best of luck the rest of
the way.
Speaker 3 (32:35):
Thank you, guys. I appreciate you guys.
Speaker 1 (32:37):
All right, all right, that'll do it for this edition
of Magic Pod Squad with Franz Boogie. We'll talk to
you next time.
On this edition of Orlando Magic Pod Squad, we catch
up with none other than Franz Wagner in his third
NBA season. He's having a career year and we can't
wait to catch up with Franz Magic fans afford. The
Department of Transportation reminds you, fans, don't let fans drive drunk.
If you've been drinking, don't get behind the wheel. Instead,
find a sober driver or catch a ride service. Remember,
(00:23):
drive sober or get pulled over. A great night and
drive safe.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
On this edition of Magic Pod Squad, we discussed Fronz
and his patented finishes at the rim, how he's able
to get to the basket, how he was able to
finish in the painted area, the incredible season that his
brother Mo Wagner is having, the one to two combination
of Polo and Franz, and how good can this Orlando
Magic team be. We get all kinds of thoughts from
(00:48):
Franz Bagner on this special edition of Magic Pod Squad.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Doesn't spawns long enough. They' Orlando Magic. This is col Anthony,
mister Jennings Suggs, this is.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Paulo man Carroll, the Orlando Magic and you're listening to
the Pod Squad.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
And walk remember one to another edition of Orlando Magic
Pod Squad Dante Marctelly, Jet Chapman George Delante and we
are joined by Magic third year man Franz Wagner kind
enough to join us here.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
We're having a terrific season. At the time of this taping,
the Magic forty one and twenty eight getting ready for
game three of their season long eight game homestand and Frons,
I just got to ask you. I don't know what
the weather is typically like this time of year in Berlin,
or what it's like in ann Arbor, but how about
the this weather in city?
Speaker 3 (01:32):
Beautiful homeline goodness? Right?
Speaker 1 (01:33):
I mean, how great has this been for it?
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Oh? It's so great, memo. We talk about it daily, honestly,
how good the weather is. We obviously compare it to
back home. When we talked to all parents, they're always
always super jealous when we're on FaceTime. We showed him,
showed them while sunny it is out here, What.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Do you like to do? So what would be the
what would be the ideal day? I know we talked
to Mo one day as he was driving out to
the beach, But what would be your ideal day and
on a with wether like this, I like the beach.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
But honestly, just sit by the pool and enjoy the weather.
And then and the ideal day is I just got
a sauna, So then the new thing is rub before
I go to sleep, I go at the sauna for
fifteen twenty minutes and then I'm pretty much knocked right
out after that.
Speaker 5 (02:24):
So yeah, that'll fall asleep in the sauna. Now, that's
not good for you.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
No, no, no, I won't do that. I won't do that.
I'll make sure not to do that.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Isn't it nice to be beach ready? I haven't been
beach ready for forty years?
Speaker 3 (02:36):
Right?
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Isn't it nice to just get right out there? It'd
be ready for the beach. That must be nice. Well, Frouz,
let us know you got Magic fans that are super
pumped about this season. I know you're excited about what's
happening right now. Can you feel the buzz and the
electricity in this town right now about about what's happening
here with the Magic?
Speaker 3 (02:55):
Definitely? I think that's that's a huge port of our
assignment as a group too, that we can feel that,
you know, when you're just walking around or something like that.
More and more people recognize that just just thank you
for the efforts and stuff like that. I think that's
that's a super cool part of it, and obviously we
want to make sure we keep that going and keep
going as a team, and yeah, to do that for
(03:17):
the next couple of years.
Speaker 5 (03:19):
You actually stole my question because I was going to
ask you, have you been noticing when you're out do
more people? Are they noticing you now? Are they? I
don't know what it was like before. I don't know
what it was like your rookie year or even your
second year, like are you walking around town? And then
everybody goes, holy crap. I think that's Franz Wagner, like,
are you getting some of that a little bit?
Speaker 3 (03:38):
It's it's honestly not too bad, which I'm a little
happied about. Honestly, I like, well around and just just
be a no long person too. But I think now
now it's more like people are so excited to come
up and say, hey, you guys are playing so great,
love what you rather do. And I think that part
is obviously reassuring, and yeah, keeps you motivating, I would say,
(04:03):
is this.
Speaker 6 (04:03):
The most fun you've ever had playing basketball? Oh, in
the end, I last summer, I know, last summer. I know,
last nummer important, But yeah, I think.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Yeah, I think I think it's a similar vibe though
that we're that we're creating here, and I think it's
it's a lot harder to do in a long season
like we are having, you know, to have a group
stay connected like that and everybody is totally locked in
on the team. Yeah, but the national team, Like I said,
I think there's a lot of parallels that that I
would draw in terms of it together and is and
(04:41):
roles being the fine and everybody really growing together as
a group. I think that's what's most fun. I think
about our group, that we're so young and that we
kind of grew as as a group together and you know,
we kind of ripping the benefits of that, I think,
And I think that's I think to me, that's a
cool was part having been with these guys and been
(05:03):
through tough times and with these guys as well, And
like I said, I think now we're enjoyed, you know,
kind of the end of that and hopefully we can
in finish the season strong. Amen to that.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
You know, Franz, I'm watching the Cavs and Heats. I
could care less about either of those two teams. And
I'm watching those games, watching the Pacers and the Bowl.
I mean, I'm watching them all. Are you getting caught up?
And I know you don't look past your opponent. I
know you're not looking ahead by any means, but are
you watching to see what the other teams do? Because
it affects you in the standings, for sure.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
But more so I would say watching in terms of
like playoff preparation and really getting to know these teams
obviously that we're competing with and that we're in the
playoff race with. And I think the bigest thing is
what you said though, that you know we were in
a win a situation where we can control our own destiny,
(05:55):
and I think that's a that's a super super cool
thing far as as a young and how we do
that is just stay focused on us. And obviously I
think everybody looks at the standing as every once in
a while, and no, I think if we keep doing
our job like we out there and we're have a
good shot on getting a good playoff spot.
Speaker 5 (06:17):
How have you guys been able to do that front
to just focus on the on the now. I think
you guys are doing a really good job of not,
like you said, not getting too far ahead and not
looking at other opponents like you really, you guys are
really focused on Okay, tomorrow night we play New Orleans
and that's what we're focused on, and that's all we're doing,
and we're not looking at anything else. How hard has
(06:37):
it been to block out, you know, all of the
other stuff which which comes with with success, all the
people and the requests and this and that. How How
have you guys been able to focus on that?
Speaker 1 (06:49):
I think it.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
Starts with coach Moseley. Honestly, I think that's a huge
jumping service and most of his talk and pregame speeches
and stuff like that, and I think that is it's
a credit to everybody on the team just individually locking
in and knowing what the what the task at handled was,
what the goal is. So I think for us to
stay focused, everybody needs that same approach. At the same time,
(07:13):
I think it's cool that that was still having fun
with it and using these games to get better and
also learn from the you know, I think the New
York game, the Indiana game. What big learning lessons for us?
And I think it's it's a big credit to the
team that we learned from those games and get better
and you know, not overlooked that other thing that's not
important anything like that. But I think everybody's aware that,
(07:35):
you know, thirteen games or something like that left, so
we'll make those counts.
Speaker 6 (07:41):
I wanted to ask you something similar about you specifically.
I was listening to an old pod with you with
Duncan Robinson. I think it was after your rookie year,
and you talked about how sometimes in game you want
to clear your head, like you got almost too much
going on and you're and you're thinking about maybe the
last play, and that is that something? And I think
obviously you probably improved in that regard just based on
(08:01):
the way you've improved performance wise in three seasons now.
Is that something that can only be fixed with reps
and with time and experience, or is it something that
you focus on kind of your mental approach to the
game as the season wears on.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Yeah, I think I think it's one of those things.
You know, it doesn't always get easier to mental side
of it. You know, obviously you want to get better
and strive to do that. But as you get older,
your expectations get higher and stuff like that, and I think,
you know, get the game and inside of your head,
it's sometimes the toughest part. And I think I think
(08:36):
that's a huge part of being an NBA player or
being just in those high pressure pressure moments that I
think everybody kind of has to figure that out for themselves.
And obviously there's resources that we have with the team
and people you can talk to and stuff like that.
But I know for me, sometimes it's good to get
away from the game, you know, do something that's not
(08:57):
related to it, and so then I can come back
and really focus on it. And then there's different stuff
in the game, just like taking deep breaths or meditating
before game. Stuff like that I think that I like
to do. But like I said, I think everybody kind
of has to figure it out out their own way.
But I think it's it's good to acknowledge that that's
(09:18):
a that's a huge part of playing basketball at a
high level and doing that consistently over a long time.
So I think that's something maybe that's not obviously it's
not easy to see us, you know, guys warming up
before the game or stretching and the obvious audio recovery stuff.
I think the mental side of the sport is uh yeah,
(09:38):
just as much much a thing.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
It's great, we're learned so much more about that. Here's
bet Jalen's been outspoken about that as well, how much
he's he's benefited from that. You know, you when you
watch the way you play and the way you finish.
You pick up the basketball, you're in the paint, you're
making your move. Somebody goes right, you go left, they
go left, you go right. You have an ability to
get around them, you can finish. You you can see
(10:01):
the defender in front of you, the one that's coming.
You're able to finish. How does one practice that? You know,
when you put in all this time and all this
work and you have such incredible footwork and you're able
to finish falling away, flipping it up a high off
the glass, how do you possibly practice all of that? Fronts?
Speaker 3 (10:20):
Well, obviously I didn't. I didn't do that stuff just
the first time I've picked up a basketball. I think,
right right, I think the visiost thing is having the
base stics right and doing those being able to do
those just you know, kind of in your sleep and
having those habits, right, and then nowadays it's you know,
we do a lot of random stuff where the coach
(10:42):
throws me about like in the last second, gives me
a pointer of how I should finish, if it's high,
if it's with the left hand off two feet, so
different stuff like that to kind of simulate what happens
in the game. We adjust in the last second. So
I would say we do a lot of a lot
of those kind of awkward finishes maybe that that are
(11:05):
sometimes doing the game. But honestly, a big part of
my game is also focusing on, you know, those moments
where it's maybe be good to go through a defender.
I think it's it's cool to play with someone like
Polo who h you know, has that down in the
second year, or whether you know, getting to the free
throw line, finding contact to create angles and stuff like that.
(11:26):
So that's that's how I look at it. I think
those those finages are super cool, but sometimes the best
thing is to create a better angle bay not just
going around people, like going going through the defender. Good point.
Speaker 5 (11:38):
So when you are are you watching a lot of
film to to figure out different ways that you can
finish and get to the rim because obviously if you
you know, you're at eighty five eighty six percent re
throw shooter, so it would benefit you to get to
the line as much as possible, right for sure.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
Yeah, that's that's a huge, uh point of emphasis in
my workouts when I watch them with coaches or by myself,
or when I'm just watching a random game at night.
You know, those those players kind of in the stick
came ahead a little bit more aware. I see something
that I talked about with the coaches that day. So yeah,
(12:16):
that's definitely something I try to focus on. It's not
it's not the natural thing for me, so it's it
takes a little bit to implement that in my game
and get better at it. But I think that that's
part of it. It's part of getting better, and I
enjoy those those challenges.
Speaker 5 (12:32):
Honestly, does a coach come to you at any point
and say, hey, listen, I saw so and so do this.
Can let's try this and then you you you try
to to add and move into into your your repertoire
a little bit.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
Yeah, that kind of happened the OLLA days, UH coach
coach one to send me a clip of brandon Ingram,
you know, finding contact as he as he's going in
the basket. So yeah, it can It can be any
type of situation. Maybe preparing for a scout they see
a clip and they send it to me, or stuff
like that. You know, we got a great coaching stuff
(13:07):
that I don't know. I was very aware of what
the players are wanting to get better and what they
need to get better at it. I think that's such
a huge part of all.
Speaker 6 (13:15):
Program sometimes, like your brother says, you just got to
bang your head through the wall, right exactly.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
That's the most small thing ever. Yeah, it's my favorite.
Speaker 6 (13:28):
I think it's my favorite.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
What is it?
Speaker 6 (13:30):
How gratifying has it been for you to watch him
this year? Kind of harness that energy?
Speaker 1 (13:36):
Right?
Speaker 6 (13:36):
For those of us who have watched every game that
he's played in Magic uniform, we know how important he
is bringing the juice. I call him on the radio
broadcast the juice Bringer, and the nickname admittedly needs work, but.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
Yeah you might want to work shop.
Speaker 5 (13:50):
Yeah, yeah, that one sucks, by the way.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
I mean, it's not that bad. He brings the news.
I don't know how to describe the match, but shorter.
First of all, it's gotta be.
Speaker 6 (13:59):
It has to have been fun, friends, and and gratifying
and rewarding to watch a brother kind of thread that
needle where he's still himself, he's still being the bringer
of the juice and bringing that energy, but but he's
able to sort of scale it back at times and
not hurt the team. It's us. It's a fine line
(14:19):
to walk at times, but he's he's now on it
this year, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Man, that's a huge compliment. I would say, I think
that's awesome that from somebody that watches every game that
says that, because I know it's a lot. Uh, it's
something that he focuses on a lot, and it puts
a lot of work in and like you said, it's
it's not easy to do, you know, to to bring
those intangibles every game and and and bring like you said,
(14:46):
the juice every game without maybe going a little a
little bit too far. So I'm I'm super proud just
as a as a brother seeing his development and the
way he's carved themselves, you know, a role on a
really good NBA team, looking at how his career when
(15:09):
he you know, definitely wasn't developed the best cards. So
I think that's that's really cool for him. You know
that the path that he's taken and continues to take,
and obviously it's it's super cool to see that.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
Of course, what did he work on the most? I
mean for most of the year, he's the top ten
and field goal percentage top five and two point percentage,
he's he's top ten and points per game off cuts.
He has figured out how to get open right and
figured out that's a stands, that's a stat and he
can't and he's able to finish the magic of one
of the top hutting teams. And the guy we're talking
(15:42):
to is right there at the top as well. But
but far, he's figured out passing lanes, he's figured out
how to get open, and he's finishing this year right
with what What are some of the things that he
worked on to put himself in this position?
Speaker 3 (15:54):
I think I think if we would ask Small, I
think he would say, simplify this game a little bit.
I think he knows exactly what he's good at, what
he's really good at, and he tries to do that
as many times. He tries to do that as many
times as he can throughout the game. So I think
(16:16):
I think whether it's cutting, I think he's always been
a smart player, but you know, I think he has
these He simplified his game until the look when he
gets it then pick a role. He knows exactly what
he's looking at, what what his reads are. Obviously, I
think it also really helps you playing with someone like
Joe Ingles, where you know you're going to get the
(16:37):
ball of your open So I think that I think
their chemistry, especially in my second unit, so I think
has really helped him and was just a smart player
that knows where to be at what time. And yeah,
I think a huge part of our offense and of
our team Joe Ingles.
Speaker 1 (16:58):
Have you ever seen the player be so per active
that that doesn't bend at the waste? Have you ever
seen have you?
Speaker 2 (17:06):
Have you?
Speaker 1 (17:06):
Have you ever seen somebody that efficient? It's remarkable, right,
not blazing screen? You say, but he's but he's so
good out there.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
He is. I think, yeah, I think it's it's really
cool for obviously us young players to see how you
can manipulate the game and have a huge imputing game
without necessarily being the strongest, the fastest, or most athletic
out there. And you know, those are skills that are
super hard to learn, the stuff that he does every day,
(17:37):
and so it's cool to see that, and like I said,
it's really hard to implement in your own game and
and and learn it from it. It's definitely, it's definitely
really cool.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
Have you all seen the video, the Jumping Joe videos
by the way, when he when he had a fast
break and the entire bench was begging him to duck it.
Speaker 3 (17:56):
Yeah, oh yeah, that was the one that was the
one longer, that was the one. We've got to get
a better chance.
Speaker 5 (18:01):
Yeah, I don't think we are. I think I think
that was like Dayley's comment, I'm not sure you're gonna
see that one again.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
With all these analyst all star break.
Speaker 5 (18:09):
Yes, he should have been so you should have had
fresh legs.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
Yeah, exactly, so we'll see.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
That was just but there's all these videos of him
in Australia when he used to dunk on people all
the time. It was amazing because you got we gotta
find those It's it's pretty impressive.
Speaker 5 (18:25):
Well, speaking of fresh legs fronts, let take us back
to January. You have the ankle injury, right, and that
puts you out for eight or nine games. We've talked
privately Dante myself, Jake that when you came back, it
seemed like because you had played awesome. I mean, you
really didn't have a break right for two straight seasons
because you're playing with Germany and then the and then
that you're playing basically all eighty two games for the
(18:48):
Magic and then you're going right back to Team Germany again.
And then because we know one thing about you, if
you're healthy, you're gonna play. And so you've had two
straight years and then you had the ankle injury where
you missed nine games. We felt that when you came back,
like maybe that was a little bit of a blessing
in disguise because you even though you were hurt and
you had to reab, maybe that was a little bit
(19:08):
of a break for you. Did you feel that at
all or were you just chomping at the bit to
get back and the heck with this injury, I gotta
get back on the court.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (19:17):
I think I think that was one thing that I
mean one trying to thought that I had to stay
positive as I was injured. You know, you always try
to obviously make the most out of the situation. I think.
I think there's definitely some true to that. At the
same time, though, I think there's also a rhythm that
you get when you're when you're in season, and you
(19:38):
know when you're injured, you obviously kind of lose that
and it takes a little bit to get that back.
So but yeah, I think there's there's definitely some truth
to that, and most on anything, though, I was just
just happy to get back out there and luckily it
wasn't wasn't too bad of an injury.
Speaker 6 (19:55):
Is that the main thing, though, Franz. I mean, you
had an ankle and you mist eight games. Otherwise we're
talking about the games at the end of the year
that when the old team said, right, eighty seventy nine
games follow is the same way he's raining ankle last
year and he's played just about every game for two seasons.
And in today's day and age, we don't want to
get all into it, but it's rare to have guys
that play. Yeah, I pulled the numbers yesterday. You've been
(20:17):
available ninety four point three percent of the time in
the games you've been in the Magic uniform.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
Is it? Is it?
Speaker 6 (20:23):
About losing, because I know there's nights and days when
you wake up and you go, man, this is you know,
the hammy's bugging me or the calf is really sore.
Is it a matter of you just want to play
because you don't want to lose your rhythm?
Speaker 3 (20:34):
Is it?
Speaker 6 (20:35):
Is it just something that you've always just been programmed
that way. If I'm good to go, if I can
stand up, I'm gonna go play this game. What's that
mentality about?
Speaker 1 (20:46):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (20:47):
To me, it's like I would I would hate to
like look back and then be like, oh, I could
help the team, but like, no, I would hate to
have that like regret thought a little little bit after
the game when when if I if I wouldn't have played.
So if I for confident then I'm not going to
hurt myself or that I can help the team, then
(21:10):
you know, I don't see no reason why not to play.
I love playing. I love being out there with my teammates,
and I think there is there is uh you know,
I think what I just said with the rhythm, like
there is something to that when you when you don't
play it for a couple of days, you kind of
lose that a little bit and it might take a
couple of minutes in the next game. So I think
(21:31):
I think that can be a little bit more of that.
But I think it's also just cool to look back
and be able to say, you know, I fought through
those moments. And I think guys, guys take pride in
that to be able to play in most games. Yeah, no, there's.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
There's no question about it, you know. So for you
and Paulo Bancaro, it's only taken a year plus for
you guys to to be a lethal one two combo.
You would be the second pair of teammates in magic
history to average twenty points per game. Right, the others
are shocking, Petty, this would be the second time and
in magic history. Now you can throw the ball to
him without even looking, you know so well where he's
(22:06):
going to be at. Right, that was phenomenal last night.
By the way, he says, every time he gets stuck
he can bank on you cut into the basket at
the right time. Just how about that, uh that that
with that went two punch, that that you that you
guys have worked on together.
Speaker 3 (22:20):
Yeah, I think I think we're just both I think
smart players that love to play with their teammates. And
I think we're similar in our approach to the game
that we're very focused, but it's still very confident, and
I think I think just in that sense, we're very
(22:41):
similar in how we play. And then I just got
to say, it's pretty easy playing with someone like Carlow.
You know that that draws so much attention and at
the same time wants to play for his teammates. So
I think that's it's super impressive at his age what
he's doing. And no, I try to learn as much
from him as I can, and you know, and just
(23:04):
make the most out of the opportunity that I think
that's the That's the best way I can put it.
And I'm I think we're both well aware that we're
in a situation. No, we're we're really lucky where we have,
you know, teammates that are giving us a lot of
responsibility and trusting us in a lot of ways. And
(23:24):
I think both of us just just want to pay
that back.
Speaker 1 (23:28):
Who keeps you on your toes the most frouds is
it Cole playing with one shoe?
Speaker 3 (23:32):
Is it?
Speaker 1 (23:32):
Jalen taking the three? Is turning around? He doesn't even
have to see it go in but I saw that
that happened right in front of me, and I had
no idea didn't want me too.
Speaker 5 (23:39):
I was going to say the same thing. I watched
it and I just thought, well, that's a big shot.
We got this run going. I didn't notice until after
the game that he turned around.
Speaker 6 (23:47):
See I got that up on four that the whole thing.
Speaker 5 (23:52):
See it pays to be up that high. Jaje, you
could see that.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
And that's another juice Bringer, right, bringer of the Juice
and Jalen Suggs for sure, But there were that was
two guys. They got to be so much fun to
play with it. They each have different elements, but they
certainly can both keep you on your toes for sure.
They're excitable players to watch for sure.
Speaker 3 (24:09):
Now there's there's something everything that you know, I didn't
expect or never seen before. And yeah, just so that
I feel like we should you know, may be a
little bit more on TV than we have then, but
when we get to see that in the future. But
I think I think we have a farm group and
those two guys, for sure, they keep going with toes
(24:32):
and uh, I think that's I think it's a lot
a lit of crazy it's good for our tea.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
Yes, thank you.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
I think we think we definitely have that.
Speaker 5 (24:41):
Oh, we definitely have a little bit of crazy. There's
no doubt about that. You're also going to get all that.
You're also going to get all the attention you want
if you know, if this thing keeps going in the
right direction and and the playoffs are exactly all the
all the spotlight that you want. So I'm not I'm
not going to ask you to go back and talk
about the World Championships because I know you to do that.
I would like you to look forward to the Olympics
(25:05):
because that's going to be something that you and your
brother are gonna, I would assume, be chopping at the
bit to go do that this summer. The groups just
came out yesterday where I saw that Germany was with
let's see France, Japan and Latvia. Right, So are you guys?
I mean that the Olympics has to be a once
in a lifetime dream of you guys.
Speaker 3 (25:26):
Right, Well, for sure, I know Moe was able to
play in the last form but during COVID, so I
know he's very excited to have his first I guess
we're Olympic experience and for me to be the same
I think, not just a basketball part of it, but
just being part of that, you know, obviously super historic
(25:48):
event and be able to see the other sports too
and just catched the whole vibe. I think that's that's
what I'm really excited for. And it does it does
like it doesn't happen every every time for Germany to
be a part of that with the basketball team, So
we're really excited to go, uh, you know, meet again
as a team. We had an amazing time in the
(26:10):
last two years and hopefully we can build on that.
Oh yeah, just just being a part of that is
there's definitely something that you know, it's not a given
for us in Germany, so I'm going to enjoy every
second of it.
Speaker 5 (26:24):
I'd imagine that you have another group thread with with
your German national team members. Was did there was there
any chatter after the group just came out yesterday about
what do we think about this? What do we talk brands?
What did it anything? Or does it just you don't
really talk about it until you guys are all back together.
Speaker 3 (26:40):
I haven't talked to them and now the Latvia I
think Wavia still has to.
Speaker 5 (26:45):
Qualify, Yes, yep.
Speaker 3 (26:48):
Yeah, So we don't know exactly the fourth team, but
we know obviously Friends is going to be really tough
to play, and it's in France, so that should be
extra fun. And then we just played Japan last summer
too and wasn't an easy game at all. No, they
they they were very fast and a little on orthodox,
(27:10):
so I remember we had we had a sometimes a
hard time guarding them. So but yeah, I'm like I said,
for me right now, I haven't really paid too much
attention to the group or anything like that, but I
know I'm one of excited and and ready to go
hopefully in the summer.
Speaker 6 (27:28):
Does Dennis bring something extra when he plays you guys,
because he and this goes back before, this goes back
before you and Mo. But he's a I believe career
thirty four percent three point shooter and then against the
Orlando Magics, a forty career three point shooter did a
good job last time. But it always feels like, is there.
Do you guys have fun when you're out there with Dennis.
I'm sure you do.
Speaker 3 (27:48):
For sure we do, but that is uh, you know,
one of the best competitors I've I've ever played with,
so you know here he'll let you hear about it
in the game too. But yeah, it's I mean, obviously
Dennis is someone on looked up to as a young
German player and now playing together on the on the
(28:08):
national team, playing playing against each other in the NBA
is it's really cool for me And yeah, we definitely
have one with it during the games.
Speaker 1 (28:18):
Listen, I know you enjoyed the heck out of your
Michigan Wolverines winning the national championship in football. It's been
a heck of a season and and the basketball team
has had so much success and I know it's kind
of a shock to everybody. But uh, Juwan Howard, uh,
you know obviously meant so much to you. You got
to play for him, and we had him here for
a year in Orlando. What what What kind of guy is Juwan?
(28:39):
And I know a guy like that will we'll land
on his feet in no time. He did great things
with that Michigan program for sure.
Speaker 3 (28:48):
Yeah, obviously it's it's I never want to see that open,
especially someone like Juwan. No, I think it's it was
just two years for me in Michigan, but super impact
for experience and obviously Juan had had a major impact
on me. Still, a lot of the sayings that you
know that you always do stay they still, you know,
(29:10):
really head home with me today. And you know, I
had a huge impact, like I said, even even on
my career in the NBA now. And I think the
kind of guy that he is. I think everybody that
knows Juwan is at first like taken aback by how
nice he is and how easy it is to talk
to him, even though he's Juwan Howard. And you know,
(29:31):
he has the resume that he has. He he has
a way of really giving you the thing that that
he cares about you as a person. And I will
see that that with with his players, with with any
one of us players. So you know, I'm I'm always
really happy when when I get to see him. Yeah,
great dude, Great dude. I think a great coach, but
(29:53):
for sure an even even better person.
Speaker 1 (29:56):
All right, last thing, and I don't know if we
should leave this in Jake's hands with the Bringer the juice.
But we've got a nickname for Moboggner, so should we.
We're trying to find a nickname for Franz. You got
Frod's boogie, right, that started at Michigan. Do you like that?
Is that the nickname you prefer? Is it? That's the
one you want to go with? Franz Boogie.
Speaker 3 (30:12):
I don't mind that one. I think I think that's
the one that stuck the most from now. But yeah,
I'm definitely definitely not opposed to it.
Speaker 1 (30:21):
Yeah, right, the Berlin Baller has been a good one,
right that. I think that's that's pretty Yeah, what voting
around not as much?
Speaker 5 (30:31):
Yeah, Superheroes's not liking that one.
Speaker 3 (30:34):
Fine, Yeah, it was like it looks like there's there's
a more Berlin Ballers, you know what I mean. I
don't know. I don't know if people will know right
away that that's me.
Speaker 5 (30:42):
So Dante's saying you're the Berlin.
Speaker 3 (30:47):
I appreciate it that.
Speaker 1 (30:48):
I appreciate that I didn't start. I say, it's the
ones that I've seen. I'm just looking. I mean, I'm
always curious which one because it doesn't stick. If the
person doesn't like it, you gotta like it first.
Speaker 6 (31:00):
And yeah, Boogie Boogie fits. I emailed Chris Hunter just
to see exactly where Boogie came from, and it's it's
it's where it's where we all think it came from
you're super he said. He was super smooth and crappy
out there on the court, almost like he was dancing.
Speaker 1 (31:15):
And it's the word boogie.
Speaker 6 (31:16):
I think it's perfect. It makes it makes perfect.
Speaker 3 (31:17):
There you go. See, all right, I know that Chris
definitely came up with that. It was just one day,
just randomly. But it's cool when you get a nickname,
you know, that's when you that's when you really feel
a part of off the group and everybody calls you.
That's the cool feeling.
Speaker 5 (31:34):
So I like that one.
Speaker 1 (31:36):
And we're glad to see you back on Twitter. I
think fans were excited. They could they it was your
first tweet in two years last night. That was exciting.
Speaker 5 (31:43):
Did you drop one last night? I didn't see it.
Speaker 3 (31:46):
Yeah, yeah, I did.
Speaker 5 (31:47):
Brought you to Twitter last night. I didn't even see it.
Speaker 3 (31:49):
It was uh, it was for top Shot, you know,
trying to get some more you know people on top
Shot and okay, I'm on top myself, so.
Speaker 5 (32:02):
You try to get your lock.
Speaker 3 (32:05):
Exactly all right, Well, last night's thunk I think I
reposted and yeah, I hope I hope thatll On lands
on Top Shot. Maybe maybe gets a good's a nice moment.
Speaker 1 (32:17):
Okay, all right, absolutely, we'll be following the progress, Frods.
Speaker 3 (32:20):
This is great.
Speaker 1 (32:21):
We really appreciate you taking the time to join us.
It's electric in this town and we can't wait to
see what lies ahead. Thirteen games left and you've clinched
at least to play in. But I know that's not
the goal. That's the first step, but you got more
work to do, and best of luck the rest of
the way.
Speaker 3 (32:35):
Thank you, guys. I appreciate you guys.
Speaker 1 (32:37):
All right, all right, that'll do it for this edition
of Magic Pod Squad with Franz Boogie. We'll talk to
you next time.
Host
Dante Marchitelli
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