One of the rising stars in the NBA is going to be stuck on the sidelines for a while. Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero suffered a torn right oblique in Wednesday’s 102-99 loss to the Chicago Bulls and will be re-evaluated in four-to-six weeks, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Banchero landed on the injury report on Thursday and was assigned a questionable designation for Friday’s road matchup versus the Cleveland Cavaliers. A short-term recovery has quickly and cruelly been dismissed, however.
The Rookie of the Year totaled 81 points and 20 rebounds in his last two games combined, immediately taking the next leap in his career trajectory. His absence obviously hampers a young Magic squad that is looking to build on an impressive 2023-24 campaign, but it is also devastating for basketball fans.
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Banchero is averaging 29 points, 8.8 boards and 5.6 assists while shooting nearly 50 percent through five games. Although it is a minuscule sample size, Banchero is looking like a man on a mission. And that mission is catapulting the Magic firmly into relevancy for the first time in over a decade.
A playoff berth and admirable showing against the Cavaliers this past spring marked a significant turning point for Orlando, but surpassing 45 wins for a second straight year would serve as strong evidence that the team is going to be a consistent presence in the Eastern Conference for the seasons to come. Those ambitions heavily depend on Banchero’s health, though.
Alex House is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NBA, and MLB for ClutchPoints, providing a unique writing voice due to his in-depth knowledge of New York sports. Alex resides in Connecticut after receiving his journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island.