Dealing with a problematic left high-ankle sprain, the German star remains out without timetable for Orlando.
Franz Wagner is candid enough to admit that his current injury inactivity for the Orlando Magic is simply unbearable for him to shoulder.
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The German star shared his frustrations with Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel regarding his ongoing absence from the Magic due to his lingering left high-ankle sprain.
“Going into it, I was kind of expecting to feel really good within like 4-6 weeks of the injury,” Wagner said Tuesday about the brutal injury he suffered last Dec. 7 against the New York Knicks. “And obviously that wasn’t how I felt. So, I think that’s always frustrating probably not just for me (but) for everybody involved.”
Wagner is still out without a timetable for Orlando.
After sustaining the injury in New York, Wagner ultimately returned and opted to play in front of his countrymen during the NBA Berlin Game last mid-January. It was discovered that he hadn't fully recovered yet, as Orlando subsequently shut him down from playing.
Wagner came back to the Orlando lineup two games before the All-Star break, but the pain in his ankle sprain kept bothering him, causing his absence to extend further for the franchise.
“I think it was a little special circumstances with the Berlin game,” he said. “I take responsibility for playing in that game and really pushing to play in that game, and it was probably a little too soon. And then, super frustrating for me to do it a second time around and still not feel up to par prior to the All-Star break.
“So, it’s been a tough year. Obviously I’ve got great respect for everybody here and I think we’re just trying to make best out of the situation.”
Wagner has been limited to just 28 games this year. He is averaging 21.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists before his ankle injury occurred.
As the sixth-seeded Magic (38-30) are fighting for an NBA Playoff spot without his presence, Wagner expressed pressure on his ongoing recovery. But right now, he remains focused on being fully healed and evading another mistake of taking an early injury return.
“Yeah, I think that’s the nature of this thing — I feel pressure,” he said. “I put a lot of pressure on myself to play in that game in Berlin. I want to be available for the team and help my team win, regardless of how many games are left in the season honestly.
“Obviously it gets more pressing and pressing by the day, but at this point, I’ll be honest, I just want to be healthy and 100% and really finish the rehab. Can’t do any half-rehabs anymore.”
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