Wagner siblings relish winning gold in FIBA World Cup

The Wagner siblings Moritz and Franz had do doubt Germany had all the tools to win the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Last Sunday, the Wagner brothers’ belief came to pass as Germany outlasted the Bogdan Bogdanovic-led Serbia, 83-77 to win the country’s first-ever World Cup basketball gold at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Germany’s Moritz Wagner, Daniel Theis and Franz Wagner celebrate after winning the FIBA Basketball World Cup final game against Serbia in Manila on September 10, 2023. AFP PHOTO 

“I think we’re just a great team. We can’t just pick out one guy. We stick together as a group through tough times and I mean that’s what made a huge difference,” said Franz Wagner, the young Orlando Magic swingman, who backstopped veteran guard Dennis Schroder’s 28 points with 19 markers, seven rebounds and two assists.

The euphoria of winning the World Cup behind its perfect 8-0 record was made even more special as he got to accomplish the feat with his brother Moritz.

“It’s special, especially that our parents are here too. This is so surreal. It doesn’t make sense that we’re both in this team and can enjoy it together so we’re having a good night,” beamed Franz, the Magic’s eighth overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.

And while the odds may be against them considering that Serbia entered the gold medal round with sensational victories of Lithuania in the quarterfinals, 87-68, followed by a 95-86 triumph over Canada in the semis, the 22-year-old Wagner is just glad their decision to stick together spelled the difference in their gold-medal run.

“It’s really tough. The competition level is so high,” said the 6-foot-10 Wagner.

“The whole game wasn’t really easy I think the guys that went out all did a great job. All 12 guys did a great job of playing basketball and sticking together.”

Franz is hopeful that basketball will get bigger exposure through their latest World Cup feat since this will allow more kids to aspire to play the sport.

“It’s just cool to be part of this movement in Germany. Hopefully we can see more of this development, more kids playing basketball in Germany,” said the 2022 NBA All-Rookie First Team. “We need more TV for basketball so I’m a huge advocate of that, that we show more live basketball at home so just more people get exposed to the sport.”

As for Moritz, believing that they can achieve the seemingly impossible was the key to Germany’s historic World Cup title run.

“It’s hard work, it’s a lot of belief. You got to start with belief. If you don’t believe in that, you got to do that,” stressed the older Wagner, who had NBA stints previously with the Los Angeles Lakers, the Washington Wizards, the Boston Celtics, before winding up with the Magic to play with his brother Franz.

“There’s an opportunity to say how much you can do if you can believe. It really cool to do this with all these guys.”