Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner suffered a high left ankle sprain during the first quarter of Sunday’s 106-100 loss to the New York Knicks, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Monday.
Franz Wagner Avoids Major Leg Injury
With 4:43 remaining in the first quarter, Wagner attempted an alley-oop on a fast break but was fouled by Knicks big man Ariel Hukporti. It appeared his left knee buckled upon landing.
Wagner, 24, immediately grabbed his knee in pain while on the floor. The 6-foot-10 wing was then helped off the court by older brother Moritz Wagner and rookie Noah Penda.
Despite his left leg bending awkwardly, the MRI revealed no structural damage Monday. The Magic said that Wagner’s return will depend on how he responds to treatment.
FRANZ WAGNER UPDATE:
An MRI conducted Monday showed that @OrlandoMagic forward Franz Wagner suffered a left high ankle sprain. He sustained the injury during the first quarter of Sunday afternoon’s game at New York.
His return will depend on how he responds to treatment. pic.twitter.com/QS06F2Sm46
— Orlando Magic PR (@Magic_PR) December 8, 2025
“You never want to see anybody go down, but that hurt my heart, watching him hit the floor,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said after the game.
“Now I’m just praying that everything is going to be OK with him, but we just don’t like to see that happen to him, especially [Wagner], who does everything the right way at all times he’s on the floor.”
Charania noted that a high ankle sprain typically has a timeframe of two to four weeks.
Magic Drafted Wagner In 2021
Wagner also sustained the injury shortly after the Magic got last season’s leading scorer, Paolo Banchero, back from a left groin strain. Banchero missed 10 games during the stretch.
The Magic are 7-3 this season without Banchero mostly because of Wagner’s play.
Through 24 games (all starts), Wagner has averaged 22.7 points, a career-high 6.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.2 steals, and 33.4 minutes per contest while shooting a career-best 49% from the field and 36% from deep.
Wagner, the No. 8 pick in 2021 out of Michigan, has been a cornerstone of the Magic’s newfound success, averaging 19.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.0 steals through 315 career games (all starts).
Per ESPN Stats & Information, Wagner is one of just four Magic players to score at least 4,000 points before turning 23 years old, joining Shaquille O’Neal, Dwight Howard, and Tracy McGrady.
In addition, Wagner had seven 30-point games in the 2023-24 season and ranked in the top 10 of made layups and dunks, according to Basketball Reference.
The Magic will be facing the Miami Heat in the NBA Cup quarterfinal on Tuesday without Wagner.
