Paolo Banchero’s brilliant third season will have to be put on hold.
Shams Charania of The Athletic reported Thursday that the Orlando Magic star Banchero has suffered a torn oblique and will thus be out indefinitely. Charania adds that Banchero will be re-evaluated in four-to-six weeks and that Banchero’s return will be based on how he responds to treatment.
That is a really rough break for the 21-year-old Banchero, who had been having an absolutely brilliant start to the 2024-25 season. After being drafted by Orlando with the No. 1 overall pick in 2022, Banchero was the NBA’s Rookie of the Year in 2023 and went on to make an All-Star team as a sophomore last season. Banchero looked like he was taking another leap this season too, posting 29.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists a game in the early going and also becoming the NBA’s first 50-point scorer of the season.
Paolo Banchero WENT OFF in the win against Indiana:
50 PTS
13 REB
9 AST
16/26 FG (62%)
• 3/9 3PT (33%)
15/22 FT (68%)
1 STL
2 BLK
+3Orlando never has to worry. Paolo will be in MVP conversations some day.
— EVRYDAY Carter (@EVRYDAYCarter) October 29, 2024
Unfortunately though, the Magic will likely now be without their franchise player through at least December. Franz Wagner will almost certainly take over as the No. 1 scorer with Jonathan Isaac possibly entering the starting five in place of Banchero and some of Orlando’s big offseason acquisitions being asked to step up as well.
