Franz Wagner shares update on his injury status after game vs Latvia / News - Basketnews.com

Wagner said that he felt great on the court and his previously injured ankle didn't bother him at all. He complimented his teammates for allowing him to flourish on the court and praised them for their effort on Schroder's awful shooting night.

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

Franz Wagner had missed four games before the clash against Latvia in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. He was dealing with an ankle injury he picked up in the very first game of the tournament.

Germany / Schedule

Germany Georgia100-73 Germany Slovenia100-71 Germany Latvia81-79 USA GermanyFri12:40

Despite the setback, Wagner proved why he is an NBA player. He led the team both in scoring and rebounds on a day when Dennis Schroder had arguably the worst game of his career.

"I thought they played a very physical game. Every possession mattered today," Wagner told the media in the mixed zone after the game. "We started not that great. I think we had great effort all game, I think we earned it today as a team."

"Today, [we need to] enjoy the victory a little bit but also get recovered. Tomorrow, we will focus on [the] USA. We have to make sure we're ready in two days," the player said.

Wagner joined team practices only a day before the game. Previously, he had only practiced individually. Asked how he currently feels, he assured that there is nothing to worry about.

"How did you think I looked?" Wagner laughed after the question. "I feel good, I feel good. I think I held up. Luckily, I didn't have any problems during the game."

"It didn't bother me throughout the game at all. It took me maybe one or two up-and-downs to get into a rhythm and get some confidence," the forward explained. "I've said it a bunch of times already - my teammates make it really easy for me to get back into a rhythm and help me out a lot."

It was Wagner's first game after being sidelined for close to two weeks.

"[It was] really tough," he said about the waiting period. "As a competitor, you always want to be out there and help the team. Luckily, we've got twelve really good players," he praised his teammates again. "I think we played great team basketball in Japan. I'm just happy I'm back and can help the team win."

While the game against Latvia was a happy one for Wagner, it was a nightmare for Dennis Schroder. He made just 4 shots in 26 attempts and recorded a staggering efficiency score of -9.

Despite the fact, the star guard stayed on the court throughout the majority of the game and was part of the five that

"I think everybody just kept on playing their own game, kept lifting him up. He did a great job staying aggressive and did not let his offensive night impact [the game negatively], he impacted the game in other ways," Wagner said about Schroder.

"I think that's really important for everybody to see. It's a team game, not everybody is going to make every shot. That's what it is all about - to have all twelve guys ready."

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