Moritz Wagner recalls hilarious run-in with Kevin Durant in rookie season / News - Basketnews.com

Mo Wagner recounted how the 'You can't guard me' phrase to Kevin Durant led to on-court banter.

Credit: Getty Images via AFP - Scanpix, AP Photo/John Raoux - Scanpix Credit Getty Images via AFP - Scanpix, AP Photo/John Raoux - Scanpix

Orlando Magic big man Moritz Wagner and his younger brother Franz appeared on the Pardon My Take podcast, where Mo shared a funny story of his first encounter with NBA superstar Kevin Durant.

Moritz Wagner

Team:Orlando MagicPosition:PF, CAge:26Height:211 cmWeight:111 kgBirth place:Berlin, GermanyProfileNewsStatistics

Wagner, who wore the Los Angeles Lakers jersey during his rookie season in 2018-19, reminisced about facing KD when the latter was with the Golden State Warriors.

Despite being a rookie with minimal recognition, Moritz Wagner, known for his talkative nature, once confidently turned around on Durant and declared, "You can't guard me."

"I talk a lot, obviously. I kind of put that back a little bit," he started. "But one of the first times I matched up with Kevin Durant... I am a huge NBA fan, I know all these guys from YouTube, I watched all these games at night, Franz and I would get up at night to watch these players, and all of a sudden, I am on the court with them, and obviously, my first year, I am a little star-struck.

"Kevin Durant guards me, and I think he is not serious at all; he does not even know who I am," Wagner continued. "I am on a pick-and-pop, and he fouls me. And I did not realize it was him. I turned around and said, 'You can't guard me.' I had no credibility whatsoever at that point.

"He was on the Warriors. It was Durant, Draymond Green, and Demarcus Cousins that were at the free throw line box out, talking shit to me while I was shooting three free throws. I am telling you, I was so shook. I made one out of three. ... I set myself up for that, so I deserved all of that."

At this point in his career, Moritz Wagner is a reigning World Champion with the German national team and a six-season NBA veteran.

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