The best sights and sounds as the Magic and Grizzlies take over Europe
The Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic crossed the Atlantic Ocean this week for a two-game regular season slate.
On Thursday, the Magic defeated the Grizzlies 118-111 in Berlin in the first game of the NBA regular season in Germany. The doubleheader will continue when the Magic and Grizzlies travel to London to meet on Sunday.
The Berlin game marked a special occasion for magicians Tristan da Silva and Franz and Moritz Wagner, who all played in their home country.
“Having the Orlando Magic and the NBA play a regular season game in our hometown of Berlin means everything to us. Growing up here, we dreamed of times like this,” the Wagner brothers said in a statement. “It’s a great honor to represent Berlin and Germany and show how much the city and the country love the game of basketball. We hope we can inspire children the way we were inspired to watch the games from afar.”
Along the way, each team has made a lot of progress on their journey. Here are the top scenes from the trip.
Black shows his poster
Late in the fourth quarter of the Berlin game, Magic guard Anthony Black attacked the basket to gain momentum as four Grizzlies tried to block him. It quickly led to a memorable poster, which Black showed in the post-match. He revealed that he thought he was alone when he went for the dunk.
WNBA star Angel Reese in the building
Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese did a pregame show before taking a courtside seat in Berlin.
Former NBA stars link up
The Berlin game brought together notable faces in attendance. Dirk Nowitzki, two-time MVP Steve Nash, four-time NBA Champion Tony Parker, former Defensive Player of the Year Joakim Noah and NBA champion Jason Williams hung out together before the game.
A famous group takes a court photo in Berlin 🤩 pic.twitter.com/su4sPNhFQI
– NBA (@NBA) January 15, 2026
German football royalty was there
German soccer couple Thomas Müller and Mats Hummels sit on the court in Berlin. They also shared a hug with Jürgen Klopp, the German manager who is now Head of Global Soccer at Red Bull.
Jurgen Klopp, Thomas Müller, and Mats Hummels (@matshummels) are on the Grizzlies-Magic court ⚽️🤩
The NBA Berlin game presented by Tissot tips off at 2pm/et on Prime! pic.twitter.com/MY1kYY1iXp
– NBA (@NBA) January 15, 2026
The Wagner brothers connected with Dirk
It wouldn’t be an NBA trip to Germany without the presence of Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki. The Dallas Mavericks forward shouted, “Welcome back” to Franz and Moritz Wagner as the trio met in Berlin.
Da Silva finds love for the place
Playing in his home country, da Silva was met by a group of fans who happily explained that they had come from Baravia — the southeastern German region where da Silva hails from — just to watch the game. “He told me to play well [Thursday]. So I told him that he should scream as loud as possible,” said da Silva.
The stage is in Berlin
The final hardwood was assembled at the Uber Arena in Berlin, setting the stage for the Magic and Grizzlies to compete on.
Grizzlies, magic comes to Berlin
Franz Wagner said it was “surreal” to be back home as the Magic settled into their Berlin hotel, while teammate Paolo Banchero said he was ready for a “great trip.” Grizzlies center Jaren Jackson Jr. he said it was a long journey, coming after a win against the Brooklyn Nets.
Da Silva is battling jet lag
The time difference after a long trip will definitely affect a person’s circadian rhythm. But da Silva has shown how to combat it with a simple treatment.
History of Berlin, courtesy of Franz Wagner
Berlin is full of historical monuments, including the Brandenburg Gate, which became a symbol of German unity after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Wagner explained the importance when the Magic placed in front of the gate.
Grizzlies receive special gifts
From bucket hats to beanies, there was plenty of Grizzlies memorabilia. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope got creative, choosing to wear a pin on his white hat, while Jackson went for an “I heart Berlin” t-shirt.
