Ranking the top 5 NBA players from the EuroBasket Semifinals

5. Franz Wagner used EuroBasket to prove how impactful he can be.

Franz Wagner was one of the youngest players on the German roster but emerged as one of Europe’s rising stars. Over the course of the tournament, the Orlando Magic forward shot 46 percent from the three-point line, and he averaged 15.2 points, four rebounds and 1.7 assists. His best game of the tournament was a 32-point performance in the group phase against Lithuania.

Most of Wagner’s points during the tournament came from spot-up shooting because the ball was primarily in Schröder’s hands, but in the Semifinals, he expanded his game. The youngster recorded 15 points and 3 assists against gold medalist Spain, fitting some good drives into his offensive game. His highlight was probably the step-back fade-away jumper he hit over his opponent, which was reminiscent of Dirk Nowitzki’s signature move.

Despite a solid performance, the team did not quite trust Wagner in his debut with the national team yet, preferring to put the ball in the hands of more proven players like Schröder. Wagner still gave it his best effort in the semifinals and took an important step toward winning over the German coaches’ trust.

Considering that he was a EuroBasket rookie, he played really well and will soon have more responsibility with the German national team as he leads their new generation of players.

As Schröder approaches 30, it might be time for Wagner to prepare to follow in his footsteps as the team’s captain in a few years.