<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-mike-miller-says-paolo-banchero-at-the-tip-of-iceberg');   ga('set', 'title', 'Mike Miller says Magic star Paolo Banchero is only at the ‘tip of the iceberg’');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Paolo-Banchero-5-drives-to-the-basket-against-Washington-Wizards-forward-Kyshawn-George-18.jpg"><figcaption>© Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Mike Miller says Magic star Paolo Banchero is only at the ‘tip of the iceberg’</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-13T08:52:14-07:00">September 13th, 8:52am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-13T08:52:14-07:00">September 13th, 8:52am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>As the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-paolo-banchero-orlando-ready-next-playoff-step-after-offseason-moves">Orlando Magic prepare for the upcoming 2025-26 NBA season</a>, two-time NBA champion and player agent Mike Miller believes star forward Paolo Banchero has only begun to tap into his potential.</p><p>In the first episode of The 5tandard, Miller described Banchero as being at the “<a href="https://youtu.be/yAQAJ1WmDys?si=TjBXVlIPxatUTlVr" rel="noopener">tip of the iceberg</a>” as he enters his fourth NBA season.</p><p>“Tip of the iceberg,” Miller said when asked how talented Banchero is. “Paolo’s biggest thing was just, ‘How can I be the best basketball player?’ Like he just cared about basketball. That’s rare.”</p><p>Miller continued by emphasizing Banchero’s passion and commitment to improving his game.</p><p>“He’s just beginning to understand how freaking good he is. The one thing I’ll say about him and why I’ll bet on him all day long is cause he absolutely loves it and dives into it,” Miller said. “I think he’s this new era. He’s 6’10”-6’11”, 270, moves like a guard, plays like a guard. I think he has a chance to be one of the best. I would bet everything that he’s going to be one of those dudes that we talk about for the longest time.”</p><h2><b>Paolo Banchero leads Magic’s resurgence with eyes on next step</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Paolo-Banchero-and-Jayson-Tatum.jpg"><figcaption>Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Since being selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Banchero has quickly become the face of the franchise. He won Rookie of the Year in 2023 and earned his first All-Star selection the following season. His emergence has helped guide Orlando to consecutive postseason appearances, marking the franchise’s most consistent stretch of success in over a decade.</p><p>During the 2023-24 campaign, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-orlando-makes-expensive-promise-in-order-to-win-nba-championship">Banchero helped lead the Magic to a 47-35 record</a>, the team’s best since the Dwight Howard era in 2010-11. Despite being limited to just 46 games last season, he averaged 25.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game, while shooting 45.2% from the field and 32% from beyond the arc. He has already established himself as one of the league’s premier young forwards.</p><p>The Magic continued to build around their 22-year-old cornerstone this summer. In June, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-draymond-green-reaction-to-desmond-bane-trade">team acquired guard Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies in a blockbuster trade</a> and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/orlando-magic-2025-nba-free-agency-grades-for-every-signing">added veteran guard Tyus Jones</a> to solidify the backcourt. With those moves, Orlando positioned itself as a rising contender in the Eastern Conference.</p><p>Banchero now enters his fourth year with heightened expectations and the endorsement of a trusted mentor in Miller, who has closely observed his development. Miller’s remarks highlight the belief that Banchero is not just a centerpiece for Orlando, but potentially one of the defining players of his generation.</p><p>Orlando will open its season on Wednesday, Oct. 22, at the KIA Center against the Miami Heat.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Mike Miller says Magic star Paolo Banchero is only at the ‘tip of the iceberg’

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-tracy-mcgrady-says-penny-hardaway-opened-the-door-for-career');   ga('set', 'title', 'Tracy McGrady says meeting Magic’s Penny Hardaway ‘opened the door’ for his career');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Tracy-McGrady-says-meeting-Penny-Hardaway-opened-the-door-for-his-career.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>Tracy McGrady says meeting Magic’s Penny Hardaway ‘opened the door’ for his career</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-12T11:30:08-07:00">September 12th, 11:30am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-12T11:30:08-07:00">September 12th, 11:30am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Tracy McGrady credited former Orlando Magic star Penny Hardaway as a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P91MxSbq8z4" rel="noopener">pivotal influence on his career</a>, explaining that meeting the four-time All-Star guard helped shape his path to NBA stardom.</p><p>In a recent appearance on Gilbert Arenas’ Gil’s Arena, McGrady reflected on Hardaway’s impact during his teenage years in Central Florida.</p><p>“I was a Pippen fan, I was a Magic Johnson fan, I liked big guards,” McGrady said. “But when Penny came to Orlando, that’s different. Growing up 30 minutes from there, right? This is my favorite team at the time, I’m in high school, and I identified right away with his skill set, his personality, everything.”</p><p>Hardaway emerged in the 1990s as one of the NBA’s most electrifying guards, pairing with <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-brian-shaw-explains-orlando-penny-shaq-couldnt-match-lakers-kobe-shaq-dynasty">Shaquille O’Neal to lead Orlando to the 1995 NBA Finals</a>. His blend of size, court vision, and scoring ability inspired many young players, including McGrady.</p><p>“Just quiet, laid-back, quiet killer. To see how he moved and how he played was poetry in motion,” McGrady said. “So smooth, the IQ, the vision, the passing ability, being able to score inside, outside, left hand, right hand, left shoulder, right shoulder, everything you wanted from a basketball player. He was the prototype.”</p><p>McGrady entered the NBA as the No. 9 overall pick in the 1997 draft by the Toronto Raptors. After three seasons in Toronto, he returned home to Florida in 2000, joining the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/toronto-raptors/raptors-news-tracy-mcgrady-predicts-alternate-timeline-with-kobe-bryant-if-he-stayed-toronto-with-vince-carter">Magic on a seven-year, $92.8 million contract</a> through a sign-and-trade. His decision to wear the No. 1 jersey — previously donned by Hardaway — underscored the connection between the two players.</p><h2><b>Tracy McGrady says meeting Magic’s Penny Hardaway sparked his Hall of Fame career</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Penny-Hardaway-1-in-action-against-Portland-Trail-Blazers-forward-Harvey-Grant-44.jpg"><figcaption>© RVR Photos-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The seven-time All-Star recalled a defining personal moment when Hardaway welcomed him into his home as a teenager.</p><p>“I’m 17 years old, dog. When I go back to Penny’s crib, that sh—t, it did something to me. It opened the door, man. I’m looking at my idol, dog. I just couldn’t believe that I’m at Penny fu—in Hardaway’s crib,” McGrady said.</p><p>“He’s right in front of me, dog. Like this is somebody, how a Michael Jordan fan looks at MJ, this is how I looked at Penny Hardaway. And I’m at his house, so that impacted me,” he continued. “To this day, Penny is like my dude, my brother. I love him just for that reason, allowing me to come to his crib, cuz that impacted me moving forward in my career.”</p><p>During his four-year tenure with Orlando, McGrady became one of the league’s premier scorers and earned back-to-back scoring titles in 2003 and 2004. Though Hardaway’s career was slowed by injuries, McGrady’s comments highlighted the enduring influence the Magic guard had on the next generation of players.</p><p>For McGrady, the chance to meet his idol as a teenager was more than a personal milestone—it was the spark that helped propel him to a Hall of Fame career.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Tracy McGrady says meeting Magic’s Penny Hardaway ‘opened the door’ for his career

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/eurobasket-news-dennis-schroder-franz-wagner-lead-germany-final-1st-time-20-years');   ga('set', 'title', 'EuroBasket news: Dennis Schroder, Franz Wagner lead Germany to final for 1st time in 20 years');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/EuroBasket-news-Dennis-Schroder-Franz-Wagner-lead-Germany-to-final-for-1st-time-in-20-years.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>EuroBasket news: Dennis Schroder, Franz Wagner lead Germany to final for 1st time in 20 years</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-12T10:33:23-07:00">September 12th, 10:33am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-12T10:34:22-07:00">September 12th, 10:34am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Mini-Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Germany secured its first EuroBasket Final appearance in more than two decades after defeating Finland 98-96 in a closely contested <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/franz-wagner-bold-predictions-germany-eurobasket-finland">semifinal at the 2025 FIBA EuroBasket</a>. Sacramento Kings guard Dennis Schroder and Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner spearheaded the effort, continuing Germany’s run of success on the international stage.</p><p>Schroder delivered a standout performance, finishing with 26 points, 12 assists and five rebounds in 31 minutes of action. He shot 6-for-15 from the field, 4-for-9 from three-point range and was perfect at the free throw line, converting all 10 attempts. Schroder’s efficiency was reflected in a team-high EFF of 29 and a plus/minus of +22, as he consistently made key plays to keep Germany in control.</p><p>Wagner added another strong showing to complement Schroder. The Magic forward posted 22 points, five rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block across 32 minutes. Wagner shot 6-for-19 from the floor, including 3-for-8 from long distance, and converted seven of his nine free throws. He ended with an EFF of 14, helping stabilize Germany during pivotal stretches of the contest.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Germany beats Finland for a spot in the 2025 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroBasket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroBasket</a> Final 👏</p><p>Dennis Schroder:<br>26 PTS 6-of-15 FG<br>5 REBS 4-of-9 3PT<br>12 ASTS 10-of-10 FT</p><p>They wait on the winner of Turkey vs. Greece later today.<a href="https://twitter.com/courtside1891?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@courtside1891</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroBasket?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroBasket</a> <a href="https://t.co/r4zD4OJn3j">pic.twitter.com/r4zD4OJn3j</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1966530809332171260?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Dennis Schroder, Franz Wagner propel Germany to first EuroBasket Final in over 20 years</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Dennis-Schroder-17-drives-to-the-basket-while-being-defended-by-Orlando-Magic-forward-Franz-Wagner-22.jpg"><figcaption>© John Jones-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Germany also benefitted from additional depth. Magic forward Tristan da Silva, preparing for his second NBA season, chipped in 13 points, four rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block. Da Silva made four of his eight field-goal attempts in 18 minutes and recorded an EFF of 16 with a plus/minus of +16. His contributions provided a crucial boost off the bench in a high-pressure matchup.</p><p>On Finland’s side, Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen led the team with 16 points, eight rebounds and an assist in 27 minutes. He shot 6-for-17 from the field but was unable to spark a decisive run for the Finnish side, who battled throughout but fell just short in the final minutes.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/eurobasket-news-franz-wagner-leads-germany-past-luka-doncic-slovenia-reach-semifinals">Germany’s journey to the EuroBasket 2025 Final</a> marks another milestone in what has been a consistent stretch of international achievements. The national team claimed third place at EuroBasket 2022 and won the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2023. At the 2024 Olympics, Germany finished fourth, narrowly missing the podium. With this victory, the team is guaranteed a medal for the third time in four major competitions.</p><h2><b>Germany eyes EuroBasket title, awaits semifinal winner between Türkiye and Greece</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Magic-dominate-Nets-behind-season-best-3-point-shooting-in-NBA-Cup-victory.jpg"><figcaption>© Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Andreas Obst <a href="https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-eurobasket-2025/news/schroder-wagner-help-carry-germany-into-first-final-in-20-years" rel="noopener">highlighted the respect</a> Germany held for Finland after the game.</p><p>“Finland are a great fighting team and had some great games in the knockout stage so we knew we would have to be really ready physically. I think we did it pretty well overall. We had moments where we had to fight them off but I think we handled it pretty well,” Obst said.</p><p>Germany will now prepare for the EuroBasket 2025 Final on Sunday. Its opponent will be determined by the outcome of the other semifinal between <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/houston-rockets/alperen-sengun-bold-predictions-turkey-eurobasket-semifinal-greece">Türkiye, led by Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun</a>, and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks/3-giannis-antettokounmpo-bold-predictions-greece-eurobasket-semifinal-turkey">Greece, led by Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo</a>. Both teams entered the semifinal with winning records and are expected to provide a formidable challenge.</p><p>Germany’s semifinal victory represents a breakthrough moment, as the team reaches the EuroBasket Final for the first time since 2005. With Schroder and Wagner leading the way, the squad will aim to complete its run with a championship to add to its growing international résumé.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

EuroBasket news: Dennis Schroder, Franz Wagner lead Germany to final for 1st time in 20 years

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/franz-wagner-bold-predictions-germany-eurobasket-finland');   ga('set', 'title', '3 Franz Wagner bold predictions for Germany’s EuroBasket semifinal vs. Finland');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/3-Franz-Wagner-bold-predictions-for-Germanys-EuroBasket-semifinal-vs.jpg"></figure><h1>3 Franz Wagner bold predictions for Germany’s EuroBasket semifinal vs. Finland</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-11T11:54:32-07:00">September 11th, 11:54am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-11T11:54:32-07:00">September 11th, 11:54am</time><address><a>Rohan Brahmbhatt</a>Rohan Brahmbhatt is an adventure-driven sports writer, passionate footballer, mountaineer, and photojournalist. Rohan blends firsthand experience with storytelling—capturing the intensity of sport and the thrill of exploration. Whether on the field, a mountain trail, or behind the lens, he brings authentic, high-energy narratives that connect readers to the heart of the action.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Germany’s run at EuroBasket 2025 has been nothing short of spectacular. After navigating the group phase and knockout rounds with a perfect 7-0 record, the Germans have looked like a well-oiled machine, blending NBA-level talent with relentless execution. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/eurobasket-news-franz-wagner-leads-germany-past-luka-doncic-slovenia-reach-semifinals">Franz Wagner has been one of the centerpieces of this success</a>. With his blend of size, versatility, and efficiency, he has emerged as not only a scoring option but also a two-way force whose fingerprints are all over Germany’s undefeated march.</p><p>Standing opposite him in the semifinals will be Finland, a team carried by <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/eurobasket-news-lauri-markkanen-makes-history-electric-performance">Lauri Markkanen’s relentless scoring</a> and rebounding. For Wagner, this matchup is more than a semifinal; it is an opportunity to validate his evolution into a European superstar. Finland, with its 5-2 record and the towering presence of Markkanen, will test Germany in ways they have yet to be tested this tournament.</p><p>Markkanen’s ability to stretch the floor, dominate the glass, and score in bunches makes him the kind of opponent who can swing a game singlehandedly. But Wagner enters the semifinal with his own resume: averaging <a href="https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-eurobasket-2025/teams/germany/227403-franz-wagner" rel="noopener">21 points per game</a> while shooting nearly 50% from the field, excelling at both finishing inside and creating scoring chances. As Germany gears up for its most crucial test yet, Wagner looks primed to rise to the moment.</p><h2><b>Franz Wagner will outscore Lauri Markkanen</b></h2><p>Markkanen has been the engine of Finland’s run, putting up gaudy scoring numbers that keep defenses scrambling. Yet the semifinal sets up perfectly for Wagner to steal the scoring spotlight. Unlike some of Finland’s previous opponents, Germany boasts multiple defensive options to throw at Markkanen, including Daniel Theis and Johannes Voigtmann, who can at least body him up and keep him from consistently getting to his sweet spots. If Germany can limit Markkanen’s rhythm even slightly, Finland’s offense could sputter.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Franz can't be stopped – make it 21PTS for Wagner! 😤<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroBasket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroBasket</a> <a href="https://t.co/Z3F64QanmU">pic.twitter.com/Z3F64QanmU</a></p><p>— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroBasket/status/1961758891861065900?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>That’s where Wagner comes in. His scoring profile suggests he is ready to take over in the biggest moments. His numbers show not just volume but efficiency, shooting 55% inside the arc and knocking down nearly 50% of his attempts overall. He has proven capable of punishing mismatches, driving into the paint with controlled aggression, and pulling up from midrange when defenders sag. Against Finland’s defense, which has shown lapses in perimeter containment, Wagner’s ability to slash and finish at the rim could prove decisive.</p><p>If Wagner can push past his 21-point average and hit the high 20s, he could swing the game in Germany’s favor. Outscoring Markkanen isn’t just about the numbers; it would be a symbolic statement that Germany has its own superstar capable of carrying the scoring load in the clutch. With the semifinal spotlight glaring, expect Wagner to seize it and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/utah-jazz/3-lauri-markkanen-bold-predictions-for-finlands-eurobasket-semifinal-vs-germany">surpass Markkanen in the scoring column.</a></p><h2><b>Wagner will stuff the stat sheet with a near triple-double</b></h2><p>Wagner’s value has never been confined to scoring alone. One of the defining traits of his EuroBasket run has been his ability to fill every column of the stat sheet. He averages 5.7 rebounds and nearly four assists per game, while also contributing defensively with steals and occasional rim protection. Against Finland, Wagner’s versatility will be tested more than ever.</p><p>Finland plays a brand of basketball that thrives on fluid ball movement and Markkanen’s ability to create mismatches. This will force Wagner into a multi-layered role: defending on the perimeter, switching onto bigger players when necessary, and initiating fast breaks after securing rebounds. His rebounding, particularly on the defensive glass, could be critical to prevent Finland from generating second-chance opportunities. Moreover, Wagner’s passing vision has been underrated; his 27 assists in seven games highlight his ability to function as a secondary playmaker when defenses collapse on him.</p><p>In this semifinal, the conditions are ripe for Wagner to record one of those special all-around performances. A line somewhere in the neighborhood of 25 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists is not out of reach. Such a performance would not only lift Germany’s offense but also provide the defensive backbone necessary to contain Finland. Wagner’s all-around brilliance has been a quiet force all tournament, and in this game, it could explode into a defining narrative.</p><h2><b>Wagner will deliver the game-sealing play</b></h2><p>Great players aren’t defined solely by numbers; they are remembered for moments. Giannis Antetokounmpo had his block in the NBA Finals. Luka Dončić has his step-back threes in clutch situations. For Wagner, the EuroBasket semifinal against Finland could provide his signature moment. Whether it is a contested three, a transition dunk, or a defensive stop, expect him to be at the center of the play that seals Germany’s passage into the final.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">GERMANY'S DUO GETS IT DONE 🙌</p><p>Franz Wagner: 23p/7r/4a<br>Dennis Schröder: 20p/7a</p><p>They'll take on Finland in the <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroBasket?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroBasket</a> semifinals this Friday!</p><p>Watch all the EuroBasket action live on <a href="https://twitter.com/courtside1891?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@courtside1891</a>: <a href="https://t.co/fPC0xWqtRn">https://t.co/fPC0xWqtRn</a> <a href="https://t.co/tvV1oWA58v">pic.twitter.com/tvV1oWA58v</a></p><p>— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1965897131170083064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Germany has been blessed with balance: Dennis Schröder’s playmaking, Daniel Theis’ rim protection, and a deep supporting cast that thrives in its roles. But when the game tightens, and when Markkanen inevitably pushes Finland within striking distance, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/eurobasket-news-how-franz-wagner-dominated-in-germany-30-point-opening-win">ball is likely to find Wagner’s hands</a>. He has the poise and skill set to deliver when it matters most, whether by creating his own shot or making the right pass. His ability to read the game has matured rapidly, and his confidence in high-stakes situations has grown with every international outing.</p><p>If Germany is to maintain its undefeated record and punch its ticket to the EuroBasket final, Wagner will need to embrace the role of closer. The semifinal stage is where reputations are forged, and this is Wagner’s chance to solidify his place among Europe’s elite by delivering the moment everyone remembers. The odds are high that the highlight of the semifinal will belong to him.</p><h2><b>Will Germany make it past Finland?</b></h2><p>Germany’s EuroBasket 2025 semifinal against Finland is shaping up to be one of the tournament’s defining contests. Lauri Markkanen and Finland have been superb, overcoming odds and showcasing their resilience. Yet Germany’s combination of depth, defense, and star power puts it in a position of strength. Franz Wagner, with his scoring efficiency, rebounding, passing, and clutch instincts, is the player most likely to tilt the balance.</p><p>The bold predictions: a scoring duel won against Markkanen, a near triple-double, and a game-sealing play, aren’t just speculative headlines. They represent the evolution of Wagner into a true international star, one who can shoulder responsibility while elevating those around him. If these predictions materialize, Wagner won’t just be leading Germany into the EuroBasket final; he’ll be etching his name into the history of the tournament.</p><p>Germany has been perfect so far, and with Wagner poised to deliver, their march toward the EuroBasket title looks destined to continue. Finland will fight, and Markkanen will score, but when the dust settles, it may be Franz Wagner’s brilliance that shines brightest on Europe’s grand stage.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

3 Franz Wagner bold predictions for Germany’s EuroBasket semifinal vs. Finland

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-franz-wagner-real-playing-skinny-luka-doncic');   ga('set', 'title', 'Magic’s Franz Wagner gets 100% real about playing skinny Luka Doncic in EuroBasket');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Franz-Wagner-gets-100-real-about-playing-skinny-Luka-Doncic.jpg"><figcaption>David Butler II-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Magic’s Franz Wagner gets 100% real about playing skinny Luka Doncic in EuroBasket</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-10T20:36:48-07:00">September 10th, 8:36pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-10T20:41:57-07:00">September 10th, 8:41pm</time><address><a>Paolo Mariano</a>Paolo Mariano is a freelance writer, editor, and producer based in Manila, Philippines. He is a journalism graduate from the University of Santo Tomas and the father of a young girl whose personality swings from Simone Biles to Dillon Brooks. A beacon of objectivity, he believes Penny Hardaway is the true NBA GOAT.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner continued to shine for Germany in the EuroBasket, leading the team to the semifinals after beating the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/eurobasket-news-poland-star-luka-doncic-slovenia-reality-check">Luka Doncic-led Slovenia</a> in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.</p><p>Germany pulled off the comeback win, 99-91, after rallying in the second half. Wagner led Die Mannschaft with 23 points, although he struggled mightily from the field, shooting 5-of-17. He went 13-of-14 from the free throw line and added seven rebounds and four assists.</p><p>Wagner and company <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/eurobasket-news-luka-doncic-teammate-painful-admission-loss-germany">survived the 39-point explosion of Doncic</a>, who had been nothing but dominant throughout the tournament with his offensive genius. His new physique also helped, as he looked faster and more mobile.</p><p>When asked about it, the 24-year-old Wagner said the Los Angeles Lakers star <a href="https://twitter.com/BasketNews_com/status/1965881411153567953" rel="noopener">didn’t change that much</a>, which he meant as a compliment.</p><p>“He’s like that all the time. So I see no difference, really. (He’s an) extremely good player. If he got a little bit better, he might have, but it’s tough to tell with him,” noted the Magic star in a video posted by BasketNews.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Franz Wagner on skinny Luka Doncic: " He's like that all the time." 🗣 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroBasket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroBasket</a> <a href="https://t.co/Xo0ftDi1Rf">pic.twitter.com/Xo0ftDi1Rf</a></p><p>— BasketNews (@BasketNews_com) <a href="https://twitter.com/BasketNews_com/status/1965881411153567953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Slovenia looked like it was on its way to the semifinals after taking control of the first half. But Germany regrouped at halftime and mounted a fightback, punctuated by Tristan de Silva’s halfcourt buzzer-beater in the third quarter, which cut the deficit to just four points, 44-40, entering the final frame.</p><p>Germany didn’t look back and advanced to the semifinals of the EuroBasket for the second straight time. Slovenia, on the other hand, got booted out in the quarterfinals in back-to-back editions of the biennial tournament.</p><p>Wagner got plenty of help from Dennis Schroder, who had 20 points, three rebounds, and seven assists, and Daniel Theis, who tallied 15 points and nine rebounds.</p><p>Like Wagner, Andres Obst <a href="https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-eurobasket-2025/news/germany-survive-lukas-39-advance-to-semi-finals" rel="noopener">also gave credit</a> to Doncic.</p><p>“They (Slovenia) play smart and know how to draw fouls. Luka draws a lot of attention to himself and hits a lot of tough shots,” said Obst in a report from FIBA.</p><p>“The opponent was prepared for us, but we had to keep shooting with confidence. We did well and nearly scored 100 points, so we can be happy about where we are.”</p><p>Germany will battle Finland in the semifinals on Friday.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Magic’s Franz Wagner gets 100% real about playing skinny Luka Doncic in EuroBasket

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/eurobasket-news-franz-wagner-leads-germany-past-luka-doncic-slovenia-reach-semifinals');   ga('set', 'title', 'Franz Wagner leads Germany past Luka Doncic, Slovenia to reach EuroBasket semifinals');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Franz-Wagner-leads-Germany-past-Luka-Doncic-Slovenia-to-reach-semifinals.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>Franz Wagner leads Germany past Luka Doncic, Slovenia to reach EuroBasket semifinals</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-10T14:56:50-07:00">September 10th, 2:56pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-10T14:57:40-07:00">September 10th, 2:57pm</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Germany <a href="https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-eurobasket-2025/news/germany-survive-lukas-39-advance-to-semi-finals" rel="noopener">advanced to the semifinals</a> of EuroBasket 2025 with a 99-91 victory over Slovenia on Wednesday, continuing its unbeaten run in the tournament. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/franz-wagner-bold-predictions-germany-eurobasket-quarterfinal-slovenia">Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner played a pivotal role</a>, while Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic put up a remarkable effort in defeat.</p><p>Wagner paced Germany with 20 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and one steal in 35 minutes of action. Although he shot just 5-for-17 from the field, he made up for it at the free throw line, converting 13 of 14 attempts. He closed with an efficiency rating of 20 and a plus/minus of +4, anchoring Germany’s frontcourt in a high-pressure matchup.</p><p>Wagner’s performance continued a strong tournament run for the 24-year-old, who has been among the most consistent two-way players at EuroBasket while guiding Germany to a perfect record.</p><p>Sacramento Kings guard Dennis Schroder added 20 points and seven assists while logging 34 minutes. Though he struggled from the floor at 6-for-20 shooting, his 7-for-9 effort at the free throw line and steady playmaking helped Germany maintain its lead.</p><p>Former NBA forward Daniel Theis delivered one of the most efficient showings of the game. He scored 15 points on 6-for-9 shooting, grabbed nine rebounds, and added a steal across 26 minutes. His +22 plus/minus was the best on the team, underscoring his defensive presence and impact in key stretches.</p><p>Orlando Magic forward Tristan da Silva also contributed off the bench with five points, three rebounds, one assist, and one steal in 12 minutes of play.</p><h2><b>Luka Doncic falls short as Franz Wagner, Germany push past Slovenia to face Finland in EuroBasket semifinals</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Magics-Franz-Wagner.jpg"><figcaption>Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/eurobasket-news-luka-doncics-39-points-not-enough-get-slovenia-past-germany">Doncic nearly carried Slovenia single-handedly</a>, finishing with a game-high 39 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists in 32 minutes. He shot 11-for-25 from the field, 5-for-16 from three-point range, and 12-for-15 at the line. His performance earned him an efficiency rating of 36, but Slovenia struggled to generate consistent production from the supporting cast.</p><p>Despite Doncic’s brilliance, Germany’s balanced scoring and defensive adjustments down the stretch proved decisive, allowing them to pull away late in the contest.</p><p>Germany improved to 7-0 at EuroBasket with the win, extending its dominance after a perfect group stage and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/eurobasket-news-franz-wagner-leads-germany-into-eurobasket-quarterfinals">Round of 16 victory over Portugal</a>. The squad has relied on Wagner’s versatility, Schroder’s leadership, and contributions from veterans such as Theis to remain one of the tournament’s favorites.</p><p>Germany will now face Finland in the semifinals on Friday. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/utah-jazz/lauri-markkanen-bold-predictions-finland-eurobasket-georgia">Finland, led by Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen</a>, earned its place in the final four by defeating Georgia earlier in the day. That matchup ended in controversy when <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/eurobasket-news-goga-bitadze-ejected-quarterfinals-after-vicious-elbow-to-face">Magic center Goga Bitadze was ejected in the fourth quarter</a> for a flagrant elbow.</p><p>Germany’s upcoming clash with Finland sets up a battle between two of the tournament’s most impressive teams. With Wagner anchoring the frontcourt and Doncic’s run cut short, the semifinals will feature another test of Germany’s depth and composure on the international stage.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Franz Wagner leads Germany past Luka Doncic, Slovenia to reach EuroBasket semifinals

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/eurobasket-news-goga-bitadze-ejected-quarterfinals-after-vicious-elbow-to-face');   ga('set', 'title', 'Goga Bitadze ejected from EuroBasket quarterfinals after vicious elbow to face');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/EuroBasket-news-Goga-Bitadze-ejected-from-quarterfinals-after-vicious-elbow-to-face-.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>Goga Bitadze ejected from EuroBasket quarterfinals after vicious elbow to face</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-10T09:43:57-07:00">September 10th, 9:43am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-10T09:44:32-07:00">September 10th, 9:44am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Orlando Magic center <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/eurobasket-news-goga-bitadze-sparks-georgia-with-eurobasket-win-over-cyprus">Goga Bitadze saw his EuroBasket 2025 campaign</a> end abruptly after being ejected in Georgia’s quarterfinals matchup against Finland. The contest, held on Wednesday, ended in a 93-79 victory for Finland, which advanced to the semifinals behind the play of Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen.</p><p>Bitadze <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1965802252603719933" rel="noopener">was ejected</a> with 6:55 remaining in the fourth quarter after striking Mikael Jantunen in the face with a high elbow while attempting to secure a rebound. At the time of the incident, Georgia trailed 76-67.</p><p>Before his ejection, the Magic center delivered another productive performance, recording 14 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two blocks in 23 minutes. He shot 6-for-9 from the field and 1-for-2 from beyond the arc, finishing with an efficiency rating of 22 and a plus/minus of +4.</p><p>Despite the premature exit, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/eurobasket-news-franz-wagner-magic-teammate-standout-performance-georgia-loss-italy">Bitadze’s performance at EuroBasket solidified him</a> as one of Georgia’s most impactful players. Through the group stage and the knockout round, he averaged 16.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, and 1.4 assists per game. He shot 56.6% from the field and 35% from three-point range while posting an efficiency rating of 17.8 and a plus/minus of +9.</p><p>His contributions were instrumental in guiding Georgia to a 2-3 record in Group C, which included challenging matchups against <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks/giannis-antetokounmpo-bold-predictions-greece-eurobasket-lithuania">Greece, led by Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo</a>, and Italy. Georgia also notched a notable upset against France in the Round of 16 before facing Finland.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Goga Bitadze has been ejected from the Georgia-Finland EuroBasket quarterfinals matchup after he swung his elbow high and caught Mikael Jantunen in the face.</p><p>The foul was upgraded to an unsportsmanlike foul.</p><p>Good or bad call? 🤔</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroBasket?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroBasket</a>)<a href="https://t.co/wFAmiLpCZO">pic.twitter.com/wFAmiLpCZO</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1965802252603719933?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Goga Bitadze-Georgia’s run ends as Lauri Markkanen leads Finland to EuroBasket semifinals</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/goga-bitadze.jpg"><figcaption>Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/utah-jazz/lauri-markkanen-bold-predictions-finland-eurobasket-georgia">Markkanen, who has been Finland’s focal point</a> throughout the tournament, played a central role in the quarterfinal victory. He finished with 17 points, six rebounds, four blocks, and two assists in 26 minutes. The Jazz star shot 7-for-12 from the field and 2-for-5 from three-point range, registering an efficiency rating of 22.</p><p>Finland’s balanced attack and defensive presence proved too much for Georgia after Bitadze’s exit, as they closed the game on a strong run to seal their place in the semifinals.</p><p>With the win, Finland advanced to the EuroBasket semifinals, where they will meet the winner of <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/franz-wagner-bold-predictions-germany-eurobasket-quarterfinal-slovenia">Germany versus Slovenia</a> on Friday. Germany enters the contest unbeaten at 5-0, led by Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner and Sacramento Kings guard Dennis Schroder, while Slovenia is powered by Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic.</p><p>Georgia’s exit brings an end to what had been a promising campaign highlighted by Bitadze’s standout play. For the 26-year-old center, the tournament reinforced his ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor, even as his quarterfinal appearance ended in controversy.</p><p>Germany, Finland, and Slovenia remain among the top contenders for the EuroBasket 2025 crown, with the semifinals set to showcase some of the tournament’s brightest stars.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Goga Bitadze ejected from EuroBasket quarterfinals after vicious elbow to face

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/franz-wagner-bold-predictions-germany-eurobasket-quarterfinal-slovenia');   ga('set', 'title', '3 Franz Wagner bold predictions for Germany’s EuroBasket quarterfinal vs. Slovenia');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/3-Franz-Wagner-bold-predictions-for-Germanys-EuroBasket-quarterfinal-vs.-Slovenia.jpg"></figure><h1>3 Franz Wagner bold predictions for Germany’s EuroBasket quarterfinal vs. Slovenia</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-09T08:40:39-07:00">September 9th, 8:40am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-09T08:40:39-07:00">September 9th, 8:40am</time><address><a>Rohan Brahmbhatt</a>Rohan Brahmbhatt is an adventure-driven sports writer, passionate footballer, mountaineer, and photojournalist. Rohan blends firsthand experience with storytelling—capturing the intensity of sport and the thrill of exploration. Whether on the field, a mountain trail, or behind the lens, he brings authentic, high-energy narratives that connect readers to the heart of the action.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Germany has marched into the EuroBasket 2025 quarterfinals with supreme confidence. An undefeated 6-0 run has made them look like the most balanced and well-drilled team in the tournament, led by veterans like Dennis Schröder and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/eurobasket-news-franz-wagner-leads-germany-into-eurobasket-quarterfinals">rising stars like Franz Wagner</a>. Wagner, in particular, has quietly become the X-factor in Germany’s perfect run so far.</p><p>At just 24 years old, he has demonstrated poise, efficiency, and the ability to step up when Germany needs a go-to scorer on the wing. Yet the challenge now is unlike anything Germany has faced in this tournament. Standing in their way is Luka Dončić and Slovenia, a battle-tested team with arguably the best player in the world right now.</p><p>While Germany has dominated so far, Slovenia represents a different level of threat. Dončić alone can dismantle defenses with his scoring and playmaking, but Slovenia also plays with the kind of cohesion that makes them hard to overwhelm. For Wagner, this quarterfinal is about more than stats. It’s about rising to the occasion, delivering a star-level performance, and proving he belongs among Europe’s elite in the most pressurized environment. With Slovenia favored in the matchup because of Luka’s brilliance, Germany will need Wagner at his absolute best to survive. Here are three bold predictions for Wagner in this quarterfinal battle.</p><h2><b>Franz Wagner drops 30 points on Slovenia’s defense</b></h2><p>Through six games, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/franz-wagner-predictions-germany-eurobasket-2025">Franz Wagner has been the picture of efficiency</a>. Shooting over 52% from the field and averaging more than 20 points per game, he has thrived in the flow of Germany’s offense. What stands out most is his ability to score in multiple ways. His length and finishing allow him to dominate inside the arc, where he is converting a stellar 60% of his two-point attempts. Meanwhile, his confidence from deep has remained steady enough to stretch defenses. Add to that his <a href="https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-eurobasket-2025/teams/germany/227403-franz-wagner" rel="noopener">near 85% accuracy</a> from the free-throw line, and Wagner has been one of the most reliable scorers in the tournament.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Franz Wagner In (6) EuroBasket Games:</p><p>20.7 PPG<br>5.5 APG<br>3.8 AST<br>1.5 STL<br>+ 22</p><p>Leading The Way For 🇩🇪 To Win It All. <a href="https://t.co/1y93Rub9Y9">pic.twitter.com/1y93Rub9Y9</a></p><p>— 𝐁𝐱𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐨 (@Bxnchero) <a href="https://twitter.com/Bxnchero/status/1964690768108621923?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>But against Slovenia, efficiency alone won’t be enough. Dončić and company will force Germany to match firepower with firepower. Wagner’s matchup against Slovenia’s wings favors him, especially if he can use his size and strength to punish mismatches. Slovenia will likely focus much of its defensive attention on containing Dennis Schröder’s pick-and-roll game, which could leave Wagner with opportunities to isolate or attack secondary defenders.</p><p>The bold prediction here is simple: Wagner takes his game to the next level and explodes for 30 points. In a high-stakes quarterfinal where every possession matters, Germany will need a performance from Wagner that goes beyond what he has delivered so far. If he asserts himself aggressively from the opening tip, getting downhill, drawing fouls, and punishing Slovenia’s rotations, he can become the game’s leading scorer. Whether Germany wins or not may hinge on whether Wagner is willing to shoulder that kind of offensive load.</p><h2><b>Wagner becomes Germany’s defensive answer to Luka Dončić</b></h2><p>Few players in the world can claim to slow down Dončić. He is the ultimate problem-solver, capable of dissecting defenses with his scoring, passing, and relentless will. Yet if there is one player on Germany’s roster who can at least make Dončić work for everything, it’s Wagner. With his 6-foot-10 frame, lateral quickness, and instincts, Wagner has the tools to take on the challenge of defending Luka for extended stretches.</p><p>The bold prediction here is that Germany leans heavily on Wagner as their primary defender on Dončić, and that Wagner makes an impact. This doesn’t mean Luka won’t get his numbers; he almost certainly will. But Wagner’s length can contest Luka’s step-backs, while his mobility allows him to stay attached when Dončić tries to drive and collapse the paint. Perhaps most importantly, Wagner has the discipline to avoid unnecessary fouls, something essential when guarding a player who lives at the free-throw line.</p><p>If Wagner can limit Dončić to a degree, making him shoot in the low 40s from the field or forcing turnovers, it could swing the game. Germany’s defensive scheme will likely include plenty of help, but Wagner will be the anchor of those efforts. Even if Slovenia ultimately wins, this could be Wagner’s defensive coming-out party on the international stage. A bold but realistic outcome is Wagner finishing the game with two steals, a block, and a handful of key stops that keep Germany in contention.</p><h2><b>Wagner delivers a clutch 4th-quarter performance</b></h2><p>Big games are defined not only by the numbers on the stat sheet but also by who steps up when the pressure is suffocating. For all of Germany’s balance and depth, the final minutes of a knockout game often come down to which star players are willing to take control. Wagner, despite his youth, has already shown signs that he thrives under pressure, both in the NBA and on the international stage.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Franz Wagner (23 PTS, 7 REB) fuels the Germany win over Finland!</p><p>They go undefeated in Group B action 🔥</p><p>Watch all the <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroBasket?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroBasket</a> action live on <a href="https://twitter.com/courtside1891?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@courtside1891</a>: <a href="https://t.co/fPC0xWpW1P">https://t.co/fPC0xWpW1P</a> <a href="https://t.co/tkNU0fBy0T">pic.twitter.com/tkNU0fBy0T</a></p><p>— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1963348219968053622?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>The bold prediction here is that Wagner will own the fourth quarter against Slovenia. Whether Germany is trailing and needs a spark or is in a tight battle that requires composure, Wagner’s skill set makes him the ideal late-game weapon. His ability to create his own shot, his free-throw consistency, and his size advantage all point to him being the player Germany should trust when possessions matter most.</p><p>Picture a scenario where Slovenia leads by single digits entering the final five minutes. Dončić is doing his usual magic, but Wagner answers with back-to-back baskets, perhaps a pull-up three, followed by a strong drive to the rim. The confidence from those moments could fuel him to keep attacking, and it’s not hard to imagine Wagner finishing with double-digit points in the final quarter alone. Even if Slovenia pulls out the victory, Wagner’s clutch performance would mark a turning point in his international career, proving that he can carry Germany not just through group play but into the highest levels of elimination basketball.</p><h2><b>The defining test for Germany</b></h2><p>Germany has been flawless so far, but the true measure of greatness comes in the knockout rounds. Against Slovenia, they face not only one of the best teams in the tournament but one of the best players in the world. For Wagner, this game is both a challenge and an opportunity; a chance to elevate himself from rising star to centerpiece of Germany’s future on the international stage.</p><p>While Slovenia is favored because of Dončić’s unmatched brilliance, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/eurobasket-news-how-franz-wagner-dominated-in-germany-30-point-opening-win">Wagner’s boldest performance yet</a> could tilt the balance. A 30-point scoring outburst, elite defense against Luka, and a clutch fourth-quarter takeover are ambitious predictions, but they aren’t unrealistic. Wagner has already shown glimpses of all three during EuroBasket 2025. If he delivers them all on the same night, Germany could shock the tournament and keep their undefeated dream alive.</p><p>Even if Slovenia ultimately prevails, Wagner’s performance in this quarterfinal could redefine how he is viewed in the global basketball conversation. For Germany, win or lose, this is Franz Wagner’s moment to prove he belongs on the biggest stage.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

3 Franz Wagner bold predictions for Germany’s EuroBasket quarterfinal vs. Slovenia

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magics-news-dwight-howard-real-reason-hall-of-fame-career');   ga('set', 'title', 'Magic’s Dwight Howard reveals real reason behind Hall of Fame career');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/D12-Magic-1.jpg"><figcaption>Dennis Wierzbicki-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Magic’s Dwight Howard reveals real reason behind Hall of Fame career</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-07T08:35:59-07:00">September 7th, 8:35am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-07T08:35:59-07:00">September 7th, 8:35am</time><address><a href="https://www.downeuclid.com">Evan Dammarell</a>Evan Dammarell is an award-winning sports journalist covering all things Cleveland, including the Cavs, right off the shores of Lake Erie. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Dwight Howard officially reached basketball’s highest honor with <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-news-shaq-dwight-howard-flowers-hall-of-fame">his enshrinement in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame</a>. The former Orlando Magic star <a href="https://x.com/NBA/status/1964472614040326647" rel="noopener">made clear</a> what he believes is the real reason behind <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-news-dwight-howard-hilarious-reaction-lebron-james-hof-presence">Howard’s Hall of Fame career</a>.</p><p>Howard pointed to former Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy as the driving force during his peak years in Orlando.</p><p>“Because of you, I am in the Hall of Fame,” Howard said during his speech. “There is no Dwight Howard without Stan Van Gundy. You taught me what it means to stay ready.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"You taught me what it means to stay ready."</p><p>Dwight shouts out his coach Stan Van Gundy &amp; does an ICONIC impression 😂</p><p>📺 Class of 2025 Enshrinement Ceremony on NBA TV <a href="https://t.co/wOTfCMeDZL">pic.twitter.com/wOTfCMeDZL</a></p><p>— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1964472614040326647?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>That partnership produced one of the most successful stretches in Magic history. Under Van Gundy, Orlando reached the postseason in all five seasons. Orlando also made two Eastern Conference Finals appearances and a trip to the 2009 NBA Finals. Howard emerged as the league’s most dominant big man, winning three consecutive Defensive Player of the Year awards and earning five straight All-NBA First Team selections.</p><h2><b>Dwight Howard’s legacy ends and begins with the Magic</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/D12-Magic-2.jpg"><figcaption>Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Howard’s career with Orlando remains the cornerstone of his legacy. He is the franchise’s all-time leader in points, rebounds, blocked shots, free throws made, free throws attempted, and minutes played. He also ranks near the top in games played, field goals made, and steals. His numbers tell the story of a player who transformed the franchise into a contender while anchoring one of the league’s most innovative offenses of the era.</p><p>The eight-time All-Star highlighted his Magic teammates as well, thanking those who helped fuel the team’s 2009 Finals run. “That was a magical run,” Howard said, recalling the upset of LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.</p><p>Howard’s induction comes with recognition of his broader career achievements, including a championship with the Los Angeles Lakers and a gold medal with the 2008 U.S. Olympic “Redeem Team.” Yet he made it clear that his Hall of Fame journey began and thrived in Orlando, where he spent his first eight NBA seasons after being selected No. 1 overall in the 2004 draft.</p><p>“Orlando fans, thank you for supporting me all these years,” Howard said. “My career would not have been what it was without you. Our time together was amazing.”</p><p>For Howard, the Hall of Fame honor is not just a validation of his numbers. Instead, it’s a tribute to the city, teammates, and coach who helped shape his legacy.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Magic’s Dwight Howard reveals real reason behind Hall of Fame career

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/eurobasket-news-franz-wagner-leads-germany-into-eurobasket-quarterfinals');   ga('set', 'title', 'Franz Wagner leads Germany into EuroBasket quarterfinals after dramatic late surge');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Franz-Wagner-leads-Germany-into-EuroBasket-quarterfinals-after-dramatic-late-surge-.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>Franz Wagner leads Germany into EuroBasket quarterfinals after dramatic late surge</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-06T09:28:19-07:00">September 6th, 9:28am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-06T09:28:19-07:00">September 6th, 9:28am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Germany punched its ticket to the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/10-ex-nba-players-at-eurobasket-who-deserve-an-nba-return">EuroBasket 2025</a> quarterfinals with an 85-58 win over Portugal on Saturday in Riga, <a href="https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-eurobasket-2025/news/germany-race-clear-in-the-fourth-after-portugal-give-early-scare" rel="noopener">riding a late surge</a> to secure the result. Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner played a central role in the victory, continuing his strong tournament run.</p><p>Wagner finished with 16 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and a steal across 27 minutes. Although he shot just 4-for-11 from the field, his perfect 8-for-8 performance at the free throw line, coupled with his all-around contributions, gave him a team-high efficiency rating of 21 and a plus/minus of +20. His effort helped Germany pull away after a closely contested three quarters.</p><p>Through six games, Wagner ranks among EuroBasket’s top performers, averaging 20.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.5 steals while shooting 52.6% from the field and 33.3% from three. He also holds an efficiency rating of 23.8 and a plus/minus of 22.3, leading Germany to an unbeaten 5-0 record in group play.</p><p>Sacramento Kings guard Dennis Schroder matched Wagner with 16 points of his own while adding three assists, three rebounds, and a steal. He shot 6-for-15 from the field and 4-for-5 from the free throw line in 31 minutes, closing with an efficiency rating of 9 and a plus/minus of +15.</p><h2><b>Magic duo Franz Wagner, Tristan da Silva shine as Germany storms past Portugal</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Franz-Wagner-22-shoots-against-Boston-Celtics-center-Kristaps-Porzingis-8-during-the-second-quarter.jpg"><figcaption>© Mike Watters-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Orlando Magic forward Tristan da Silva provided a spark off the bench, scoring 11 points on perfect shooting. He went 4-for-4 from the field, including 3-for-3 from three-point range, while adding three rebounds and a steal. His contributions over 14 minutes earned him an efficiency rating of 14 and a plus/minus of +9.</p><p>Despite their overall dominance at EuroBasket, averaging a tournament-best 105.8 points per game with a margin of victory of 32.8 points in the group stage, Germany had to grind against Portugal. The contest was tight heading into the final quarter, with Germany holding a slim 52-51 lead.</p><p>From there, the team erupted, outscoring Portugal 33-7 in the final frame to secure the 27-point victory. Their defense tightened while Wagner, Schroder, and da Silva provided crucial baskets to seal advancement.</p><h2><b>Germany stays unbeaten at EuroBasket 2025 to secure quarterfinal berth</b></h2><p>Germany’s acting head coach Alan Ibrahimagic, filling in for head coach Álex Mumbrú, who was sidelined due to illness, <a href="https://www.nba.com/magic/news/franz-wagner-orlando-magic-germany-pull-away-from-portugal-late-to-advance-to-fiba-eurobasket-quarterfinals-20250906" rel="noopener">acknowledged the difficulties</a> of the matchup.</p><p>“The first half wasn’t that bad offensively, we just didn’t make shots and were a little bit tight and trying to get this fun back that we usually have. I don’t know if we needed it but we have to face whatever comes,” Ibrahimagic said.</p><p>“It was a really tough game,” he added. “Portugal made it really hard for us. As we expected, they played physical (and) they controlled the defensive rebounds very well. So, we couldn’t really play our game — couldn’t run, get many offensive rebounds and second chance points. We had some good shots, but didn’t make any in the first half. (We) wanted to stay calm … Finally, in the last quarter, we came through.”</p><p>Germany, now 6-0 at EuroBasket, advances to the quarterfinals where they will face the winner of Italy (4-1) versus Slovenia (3-2) on Wednesday. With Wagner anchoring the frontcourt and consistent support from Schroder and da Silva, Germany remains one of the favorites to make a deep run in the tournament.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Franz Wagner leads Germany into EuroBasket quarterfinals after dramatic late surge

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-brian-shaw-explains-orlando-penny-shaq-couldnt-match-lakers-kobe-shaq-dynasty');   ga('set', 'title', 'Brian Shaw explains why Magic’s Penny, Shaq couldn’t match Lakers’ Kobe-Shaq dynasty');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Magic-news-Brian-Shaw-explains-why-Orlandos-Penny-Shaq-couldnt-match-Lakers-Kobe-Shaq-dynasty.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>Brian Shaw explains why Magic’s Penny, Shaq couldn’t match Lakers’ Kobe-Shaq dynasty</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-05T08:41:13-07:00">September 5th, 8:41am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-05T08:41:13-07:00">September 5th, 8:41am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Former NBA guard Brian Shaw <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-the-lakers-dominated-the-nba-brian-shaw-on-kobe/id1764631378?i=1000724375468" rel="noopener">offered insight</a> into why <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-penny-hardaway-reveals-doc-rivers-contributed-painful-orlando-exit">Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway’s promising partnership with the Orlando Magic</a> never reached the championship heights O’Neal later achieved with Kobe Bryant on the Los Angeles Lakers.</p><p>Speaking on Byron Scott’s Fastbreak podcast, Shaw compared the two eras of O’Neal’s career and highlighted the factors that kept the Magic duo from replicating the Lakers’ dynasty.</p><p>“I have to take Kobe and Shaq because what we accomplished, what they accomplished, and the level they got to in terms of players,” Shaw said. “That’s no slight to Penny Hardaway at all and young Shaq, because Penny was a bad boy. He was on his way. It’s a shame. He was rushed. He tore something in the back of his ACL when we were in Orlando, and they kind of rushed him back, and it never got right again.”</p><p>O’Neal and Hardaway formed one of the league’s most dynamic tandems during the mid-1990s. Together, they <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/10-nba-teams-that-have-never-won-a-championship">led Orlando to the 1995 NBA Finals</a> in just their second season as teammates. The Magic defeated Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference semifinals that year before falling to the Houston Rockets in a four-game sweep.</p><h2><b>Brian Shaw explains why Penny-Shaq Magic couldn’t match Kobe-Shaq Lakers dynasty</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Kobe-Bryant-and-Shaquille-ONeal-celebrate-a-championship.jpg"><figcaption>Michael J. Terola-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Hardaway, a four-time All-Star, was considered one of the NBA’s most gifted guards of his generation. However, the knee injury Shaw referenced altered the trajectory of his career and limited his ability to maintain peak form.</p><p>Shaw, who played alongside O’Neal in both Orlando and Los Angeles, emphasized that the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/entertainment/shaq-oneill-kobe-bryant-feud-the-grudge-exclusive">chemistry between Bryant and O’Neal in the early 2000s gave the Lakers a competitive edge</a>, even amid their well-documented clashes.</p><p>“Him and Shaq at times clashed because Kobe wasn’t willing to relent, but that also made it fun in a way. They drove each other,” Shaw said. “If they said Kobe and the Lakers against D-Wade and the Heat, Shaq would be pissed off.”</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-shaquille-oneal-has-no-regrets-over-treatment-of-kobe-bryant">Lakers’ version of O’Neal and Bryant went on to dominate the NBA</a> at the turn of the millennium. Guided by head coach Phil Jackson, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/the-10-greatest-lakers-in-franchise-history-ranked">Los Angeles won three consecutive championships from 2000 to 2002</a> and reached the Finals again in 2004. Their success contrasted sharply with O’Neal’s earlier tenure in Orlando, where the Magic never returned to the Finals after 1995 and parted ways with O’Neal when he signed with the Lakers in free agency the following year.</p><p>Shaw’s comments underscore how injuries and circumstance shaped the legacies of both duos. While O’Neal and Hardaway electrified fans in Orlando and reached the championship stage once, it was the pairing of O’Neal and Bryant that cemented a dynasty in Los Angeles.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Brian Shaw explains why Magic’s Penny, Shaq couldn’t match Lakers’ Kobe-Shaq dynasty

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-paolo-banchero-orlando-ready-next-playoff-step-after-offseason-moves');   ga('set', 'title', 'Paolo Banchero, Magic ready for next playoff step after key offseason moves');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Paolo-Banchero-Orlando-ready-for-next-playoff-step-after-key-offseason-moves1.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>Paolo Banchero, Magic ready for next playoff step after key offseason moves</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-04T12:57:40-07:00">September 4th, 12:57pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-04T12:57:40-07:00">September 4th, 12:57pm</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Mini-Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-paolo-banchero-franz-wagner-ready-to-make-their-mark-per-assistant-coach">Orlando Magic enter the 2025-26 NBA season with heightened expectations</a> following an offseason that brought in much-needed reinforcements. After <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-espn-predicts-orlando-to-land-this-seed-wide-open-east">back-to-back first-round playoff exits</a>, the franchise believes it has taken the steps necessary to advance deeper into the postseason, with star forward Paolo Banchero voicing his confidence in the team’s direction.</p><p>Banchero, the 2022 No. 1 overall pick, recently appeared on The Brotherhood Podcast with Cam Boozer and <a href="https://youtu.be/uN-ou0w_dG0?si=ohht_GZIT1xH8Zt3" rel="noopener">highlighted the additions</a> of Desmond Bane and Tyus Jones as pivotal moves for a roster looking to mature into an Eastern Conference contender.</p><p>“Really excited about the pickups. Obviously, Desmond Bane: hell of a player. And then, Tyus: me always admiring his game. I remember him being in Memphis and him being like the best second unit player in the whole league at one point. And so, really excited to have him: a veteran presence and just a true point guard. We’ve been in the playoffs the last two years — two First Round exits — and so I feel like we needed some more experience, some more guys that been deeper in the playoffs and know what it takes to get there,” Banchero said.</p><h2><b>Desmond Bane’s shooting, Tyus Jones’ playmaking target Magic’s playoff shortcomings</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Desmond-Bane-and-Tyus-Jones.jpg"><figcaption>Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-draymond-green-reaction-to-desmond-bane-trade">acquisition of Bane came in a Father’s Day blockbuster trade with the Memphis Grizzlies</a>, which sent Cole Anthony, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, four first-round picks, and a pick swap to Memphis. Bane averaged 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 48.4% from the field and 39.2% from three across 69 games in his fifth season with Memphis. Over his career, he has connected on 41% of his attempts from beyond the arc, providing the perimeter scoring and floor spacing that Orlando had long been missing.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/orlando-magic-2025-nba-free-agency-grades-for-every-signing">Jones, meanwhile, joined the Magic in free agency</a> after averaging 10.2 points, 5.3 assists, and 2.4 rebounds while shooting 44.8% from the field and 41.4% from three in 81 games with the Phoenix Suns last season, his 10th in the NBA. Known for his efficiency and low turnover rate, he is expected to provide stability, depth, and guidance alongside Jalen Suggs, who earned All-Defensive honors in 2023-24 before being limited to 35 games last season with a knee injury.</p><p>Banchero emphasized how the Magic’s recent playoff shortcomings have fueled the team’s determination to progress.</p><p>“And so bringing those two in, it’s going to help us a lot: us being a younger team, needing that experience. I’m really excited, bro. I think it’s like you gotta go through stages in the league, you gotta lose a certain amount before you can win. And so I feel like losing first two years in the First Round, it just makes you hungrier for what’s next. I think it’s going to be a big year four,” he said.</p><h2><b>Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner set to lead dynamic duo’s pivotal season</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Paolo-Banchero-5-reacts-with-forward-Franz-Wagner-22-after-making-a-shot.jpg"><figcaption>© Rob Gray-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Banchero enters his fourth season following a year in which he averaged 25.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists despite missing time with a torn oblique. Running alongside him, Franz Wagner delivered a career-best 24.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists before suffering the same injury. Both are expected to return fully healthy, giving Orlando one of the league’s most dynamic young duos.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/orlando-magic-2025-26-season-predictions-after-schedule-release">Magic will open the 2025-26 season on Wednesday, October 22</a>, when they host the Miami Heat at the KIA Center. With Banchero, Wagner, and a retooled supporting cast, Orlando is positioned not only to return to the postseason but to contend for its first playoff series victory in over a decade.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Orlando
Magic NEWS

Magic News: Get the latest Orlando Magic news, scores, stats, standings, fantasy games, and more from ClutchPoints.

Latest Magic News

Mike Miller says Magic star Paolo Banchero is only at the ‘tip of the iceberg’

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3 Franz Wagner bold predictions for Germany’s EuroBasket semifinal vs. Finland

Magic’s Franz Wagner gets 100% real about playing skinny Luka Doncic in EuroBasket

Franz Wagner leads Germany past Luka Doncic, Slovenia to reach EuroBasket semifinals

Goga Bitadze ejected from EuroBasket quarterfinals after vicious elbow to face

• 3 Franz Wagner bold predictions for Germany’s EuroBasket quarterfinal vs. Slovenia

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• Franz Wagner leads Germany into EuroBasket quarterfinals after dramatic late surge

• Brian Shaw explains why Magic’s Penny, Shaq couldn’t match Lakers’ Kobe-Shaq dynasty

• Paolo Banchero, Magic ready for next playoff step after key offseason moves

OrlandoMagic NEWS

Magic News: Get the latest Orlando Magic news, scores, stats, standings, fantasy games, and more from ClutchPoints.

Latest Magic News

Mike Miller says Magic star Paolo Banchero is only at the ‘tip of the iceberg’

Tracy McGrady says meeting Magic’s Penny Hardaway ‘opened the door’ for his career

EuroBasket news: Dennis Schroder, Franz Wagner lead Germany to final for 1st time in 20 years

3 Franz Wagner bold predictions for Germany’s EuroBasket semifinal vs. Finland

Magic’s Franz Wagner gets 100% real about playing skinny Luka Doncic in EuroBasket

Franz Wagner leads Germany past Luka Doncic, Slovenia to reach EuroBasket semifinals

Goga Bitadze ejected from EuroBasket quarterfinals after vicious elbow to face

• 3 Franz Wagner bold predictions for Germany’s EuroBasket quarterfinal vs. Slovenia

• Magic’s Dwight Howard reveals real reason behind Hall of Fame career

• Franz Wagner leads Germany into EuroBasket quarterfinals after dramatic late surge

• Brian Shaw explains why Magic’s Penny, Shaq couldn’t match Lakers’ Kobe-Shaq dynasty

• Paolo Banchero, Magic ready for next playoff step after key offseason moves

Orlando
Magic NEWS