The Magic Insider

Magic's Paolo Banchero Sidelined Indefinitely With Torn Right Oblique

Orlando Magic All-Star and leading scorer Paolo Banchero has been diagnosed with a torn right oblique, the team announced on Thursday evening.

Mason Williams

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) looks on against the Indiana Pacers in the second quarter at Kia Center.
Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) looks on against the Indiana Pacers in the second quarter at Kia Center. / Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
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CLEVELAND – Orlando Magic All-Star forward and leading scorer Paolo Banchero is out indefinitely with a torn right oblique, the team announced on Thursday evening.

Banchero appeared on the Magic's injury report Thursday afternoon with what the team originally called a right abdominal strain, but the injury was determined to be worse after further testing.

His return to basketball will depend on how he responds to treatment. He will be re-evaluated in four to six weeks, the team said.

Banchero suffered the injury during the fourth quarter of Orlando's game at Chicago on Oct. 30, a 102-99 loss. After the game, when he entered the press room to speak with reporters, Banchero had a wrap on his right abdomen underneath his shirt.

Through five games this season, Banchero was averaging 29.0 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists. In a small sample size, Banchero was shooting career bests from the field (49.5%) and on three-pointers (34.4%).

Earlier this week against Indiana, Banchero became the fourth player in Magic history to score 50 or more points in a game. He followed that with 31 points at Chicago to become the third-ever Magic player to score 80-plus points over consecutive games.

Since arriving in Orlando as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Banchero has been the spearheading force of the Magic's upward trajectory. He was the Rookie of the Year for the 2022-23 season and was an NBA All-Star in his second year.

Banchero, who turns 22 on Nov. 12, became the youngest player in league history to lead his team in points, rebounds and assists during his sophomore year as he helped lead Orlando back to the NBA playoffs for the first time in four seasons.

The injury is nothing short of a devastating blow to a young Magic team that was watching its cornerstone player blossom into a superstar. Orlando's aspirations to take another leap in the Eastern Conference were always going to be a collective effort, but Banchero is the ultimate catalyst to that process.

Now the Magic face 20 games and likely more without one of the NBA's brightest stars.

An often overlooked trait of Banchero's game has been his availability. He missed only 12 games in his first two NBA seasons — especially remarkable given his size (6-foot-10, 250 pounds) and his physical playing style. He was bullying defenders to where he wanted them on the court while leading the Magic offense as both scorer and chief facilitator.

The trajectory of the Magic's season now hangs in the balance. Orlando must pivot quickly. Recreating Banchero's impact on a nightly basis would seem impossible, but the Magic will have to find a way to keep pace with their rivals.

There are no two ways about it. This is brutal news.

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