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Franz Wagner of the Orlando Magic suffered an injury scare against the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Orlando Magic received some good news from Franz Wagner, who shared the latest update on his injury recovery and potential return timeline.

Wagner has been limited to just 28 games this season, mainly due to a left ankle injury suffered on December 7 against the New York Knicks. It initially looked like a horrific knee injury, but he was later diagnosed with a high left ankle sprain, as reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania and Ohm Youngmisuk.

The German forward missed 16 games before returning on January 15 against the Memphis Grizzlies. It was a homecoming for Wagner, since the game was held at the Uber Arena in Berlin. He had 18 points and nine rebounds in 27 minutes.

Wagner also played three days later in London, England, against the Grizzlies again. He ended up sitting out the next nine games to allow his ankle to fully recover. He returned to play the final two games before the NBA All-Star break.

However, the Magic announced before the season resumed that Wagner was out indefinitely due to lingering soreness in his left ankle. He’s averaging 21.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game this season.

Wagner Shares Update on Injury and Return

Speaking to Toni Canyameras of BasketNews, Wagner provided an update on his recovery. He also feels ready to return before the end of the regular season, which would allow him to get some playing time for a potentially challenging NBA Play-In Tournament.

“I think the return is close,” Wagner said. “I’m hoping to play before the season ends and feel good about where I’m at. I think even when you’re out, you’re going to have a good vibe about yourself and a good attitude about everything.”

The Magic are currently sitting eighth in the East standings at 39-35. They are three games behind a spot in the top six, with eight games remaining in the regular season.

The team could benefit from Wagner’s return, especially with how they have been playing recently. They have only won three of their last 10 games entering Tuesday’s game against the Phoenix Suns.

Big Brother Helping Franz in His Recovery

GettyMoritz Wagner #21 and Franz Wagner #22 of the Orlando Magic react during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on January 30, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

In the same interview with BasketNews, Franz revealed that his recovery is much easier with his big brother, Mo Wagner, by his side. Mo missed the first two and a half months of the season as he recovered from a torn ACL in his left knee.

“Obviously, we spent a lot of time together, so we talked through some of those situations, and I think just natural thoughts come into your head when you’re hurt for a long time,” Franz said. “I think it’s very valuable to have someone who knows what you’re going through and can talk through some of that stuff. We live together, and that kind of helps us to navigate the highs and lows, for sure.”

Mo is four years older than Franz, but they had similar career paths to the NBA. They both played professionally at Alba Berlin before going to Michigan to play college basketball. They have been teammates in Orlando since the 2021-22 season.