Magic star Paolo Banchero is out indefinitely with a torn right oblique

ORLANDO – After further testing today in Cleveland, Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero was diagnosed with a torn right oblique muscle. Jeff Weltman, president of basketball operations, made the announcement today.

Banchero will be out indefinitely and his return to play will depend on how he responds to treatment. He will be examined again in four to six weeks. Banchero suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of Orlando’s game at Chicago on Oct. 30.

Banchero (6-foot-10, 250 pounds) has played and started five games for Orlando this season, averaging 29.0 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 36.4 minutes per game . He led (or tied) the team with three goals, two rebounds and three assists. Banchero has scored in double figures five times, scored more than 20 points three times and scored more than 30 points three times, including a career-high 50 points on Oct. 28 against Indiana.

He became the fourth player in franchise history to score more than 50 points in a game. At 21 years and 351 days, Banchero became the youngest player in franchise history with more than 50 game points and also the second-youngest player in NBA history with more than 50 points, more than 10 rebounds and more than 5 assists in a game ( LeBron James, 20 years, 80 days).

Last season, Banchero averaged 22.6 points and 6.9 rebounds. and 5.4 assists in a team-best 35.0 minutes per game. He became the youngest player in NBA history (21 years, 154 days old) to lead his team in points, rebounds and assists and was named an NBA All-Star.

Banchero was originally selected first overall by Orlando in the 2022 NBA Draft. Banchero has played and started 157 NBA regular season games in his career, all with the Magic, averaging 21.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 34.5 minutes.

He was named the 2022-23 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year and was the only player unanimously selected to the 2022-23 NBA All-Rookie First Team.