Paolo Banchero injury update: How long will the Orlando Magic star be out?

There are problems, and significant ones, for the Magic. Paolo Banchero (21 years old, 2.08 meters) has been diagnosed with a right oblique abdominal muscle tear and will be out indefinitely. The forward, one of the best players this season, was injured in the game his team lost to the Bulls. Although he played until the end, he was subsequently treated by the medical staff, who comprehended the injury stated before.

According to the famous journalist Shams Charania (ESPN), the young star will be re-evaluated in four or six weeks, and his return will depend on how he responds to treatment. The news is a setback and is a bucket of cold water for the aspirations of the Orlando franchise, which promises to make a definitive leap this year and establish itself in the NBA but will not be able to count on its best asset in the next month, who knows if for the rest of 2024.

Banchero, one of the best players of his generation, is immersed in his third season in the NBA. Rookie of the Year, he made it to the All-Star last season, in which the Magic played in the playoffs for the first time since 2020, leading the Cavaliers to seven grueling games in a first round in which there was everything, but in which the Ohio team prevailed, winning its first playoff without LeBron James since 1993. With Jamahl Mosley as coach, the Magic were one of the benchmarks of the Eastern Conference on the eve of this campaign for the first time since Dwiht Howard’s time in the franchise and aspired to place themselves in that sought-after step that so many candidates have behind the Celtics, favorites to repeat title. The ideal for the project was to fight against the Cavaliers, Knicks, Pacers, Sixers, or Bucks, although these last two teams have had a catastrophic start. Now, with Banchero’s injury, everything can change.

Although of Italian descent, Banchero was part of the United States team that lost in the fight for bronze at the 2023 World Cup but was left out of the 2024 Dream Team. That has made him come into this season more prepared than ever, as demonstrated by his level before the injury: 29 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists, close to 50% in field goals. The forward went to 31 points and 11 rebounds in the opening game before putting in his first great display of the season: 50 points, with 11 rebounds and 9 assists against the Pacers and in front of their home crowd. A performance that he completed with an extraordinary 16 of 26 in field goals and 22 visits to the personal for 15 successes, in addition to rounding it out with 1 steal and 2 blocks. Against the Bulls, he scored 31 points in the game after his injury, which was not known to be of such magnitude.

At 208 centimeters, Banchero is a complete and versatile player, capable of playing small forward and power forward. He averaged 22.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists last season, in which he was selected for his first All-Star. His most significant weaknesses are his jump shot and outside shooting, two qualities he was improving this season. His athletic abilities allow him to match up with almost any opposing player on both sides of the court and create space for his teammates in the zone and on the outside. One of the coolest basketball players today now finds himself with a major setback that will leave him out of (almost certainly) the individual awards. And he will have to manage his team as best as possible. Some absences weigh heavily. And Paolo Banchero’s could be one of them. That’s for sure.