Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner received league-wide recognition for his strong rookie season.
Wagner, the No. 8 pick in last year’s draft, was named to the NBA’s All-Rookie first team, the league announced Wednesday.
Wagner also finished fourth (two third-place votes) in the voting for Rookie of the Year that was awarded to Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes.
He’s the first Magic player to be named to an All-Rookie team since Elfrid Payton received All-Rookie first team honors after the 2014-15 season.
Wagner averaged 15.2 points (fourth among rookies), 4.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 30.7 minutes (79 starts in 79 appearances). His 1,197 points led all rookies.
He also shot 46.8% from the field — 51.1% on 2-pointers, 35.4% on 3-pointers — and 86.3% on free throws, finishing with a 55.9% true shooting percentage which is a formula that incorporates free throws and higher-value 3-point shots.
Wagner’s games played were the most by a rookie. He appeared in the first 78 games before missing three of the last four because of sprained ankles.
Wagner was named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for games played in December after averaging 19.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists. His career-high 38 points in the Magic’s Dec. 28 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks were the second-most points scored by a rookie behind Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green’s 41 (April 10 vs. Atlanta Hawks).
Wagner is the 15th Magic player to earn All-Rookie honors, joining:
Dennis Scott (first team, 1990-91);
Stanley Roberts (second team, 1991-92);
Shaquille O’Neal (first team, 1992-93);
Penny Hardaway (first team, 1993-94);
Matt Harpring (first team, 1998-99);
Michael Doleac (second team, 1998-99);
Chucky Atkins (second team, 1999-2000);
Mike Miller (first team, 2000-01);
Gordan Giriček (second team, 2002-03);
Drew Gooden (first team, 2002-03);
Dwight Howard (first team, 2004-05);
Jameer Nelson (second team, 2004-05);
Victor Oladipo (first team, 2013-14);
Payton.
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Price at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
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