Star player Paolo Banchero sidelined indefinitely with torn right oblique

Banchero's return to play is uncertain as he will be out indefinitely, pending his response to treatment. A re-evaluation is scheduled in four to six weeks. The injury occurred during the fourth quarter of Orlando's game at Chicago on Oct. 30.

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

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

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

Originally selected first overall in the 2022 NBA Draft by Orlando, Banchero has played and started in 157 career NBA regular season games, 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 as a unanimous selection to the 2022-23 NBA All-Rookie First Team.