The Orlando Magic will be without Franz Wagner indefinitely after recent tests showed he requires additional time and rehabilitation for soreness in his left high ankle sprain, according to NBA insider Shams Charania.
Charania reported Wednesday that Orlando will evaluate Wagner’s progress again in three weeks, with no firm return date set.
The 24-year-old forward has been dealing with the injury since December 7, 2025, when he sustained the high ankle sprain against the New York Knicks. Initial expectations projected a two-to-four week absence, but the timeline has extended due to lingering soreness.
Wagner has missed 20 of the Magic’s past 22 games. He briefly returned for two January contests in Berlin and London but later acknowledged he likely came back too early. Since then, he has played in just two games.
Before the setback, Wagner was averaging 21.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 28 games. He shot 47.9% from the field and 36.5% from three-point range while posting a 52.8% effective field goal percentage.
With Wagner sidelined, the scoring burden shifts more heavily to Paolo Banchero, who is also averaging 21.3 points in 34.5 minutes per night. Desmond Bane has added 19.6 points per game while spacing the floor at 37.2% from three.
The Magic currently sit seventh in the Eastern Conference at 28-25. They are 5-5 over their last 10 games and remain in the middle of a crowded playoff race.
High ankle sprains often require extended recovery because they involve ligaments above the ankle joint. For perimeter players who rely on lateral movement and burst, premature return can lead to recurring soreness.
