Advertisement

Paolo Banchero injury update: Orlando Magic star out indefinitely with torn oblique

Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero will be sidelined indefinitely.

The Magic announced that Banchero suffered a torn right oblique in the Magic's 102-99 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday. Banchero will be reevaluated in four to six weeks, but no timetable has been set for his return.

Banchero's injury halts a historic start to his season. Through five games, the 21-year-old averaged 29 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game in 36.4 minutes of play.

He scored 33 points and had 11 rebounds in the Magic's 116–97 season-opening win over the Miami Heat, joining Shaquille O’Neal and Tracy McGrady as the only players in franchise history to score 30-plus points and pull down 10-plus rebounds in a season opener. Banchero then dropped a career-high 50 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists in the Magic's 119-115 win over the Indiana Fever, becoming the youngest player since LeBron James to score 50-plus points and record 10-plus rebounds and five-plus assists in a game.

Banchero, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2022 NBA draft, was named the NBA Rookie of the Year for 2022-23 and earned NBA All-Rookie First Team honors. He then earned his first All-Star nod last season.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Paolo Banchero injury update: Magic F out indefinitely (torn oblique)