Injury to oblique sidelines Paolo Banchero of Magic indefinitely
The Orlando Magic announced on Thursday that forward Paolo Banchero will be sidelined indefinitely due to a torn right oblique muscle.
The 21-year-old standout will undergo another evaluation in four to six weeks. Banchero sustained the injury during the fourth quarter of the Magic's 102-99 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday.
Banchero has been leading the team in both scoring (29 points per game) and assists (5.6) after an impressive start to the season.
In the season opener, a 116-97 victory over the Miami Heat, he recorded 33 points and 11 rebounds, becoming only the third player in franchise history to achieve 30 points and 10 rebounds in an opening game, alongside former stars Shaquille O'Neal and Tracy McGrady.
Banchero then had a career-high performance on Monday, scoring 50 points in a 119-115 win against the Indiana Pacers. He also grabbed 13 rebounds and dished out nine assists, making him the second-youngest player in NBA history to achieve 50 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in a single game (behind LeBron James in 2005).
On Wednesday, Banchero added 31 points to his season total, making him only the third player in franchise history (alongside O'Neal and McGrady) to average 40 points over a two-game span.
Banchero, who was selected to the All-Star team last season, was the first overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic. In his 157 career games, he has averaged 21.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 4.6 assists.
