Paolo Banchero knew something was wrong. He was surprised to learn the extent.
The Orlando Magic All-Star will miss the next several weeks with a torn right oblique, an injury that happened in his team鈥檚 loss to Chicago on Wednesday night. The abdominal muscle injury was diagnosed Thursday, causing Banchero to miss the game Friday in Cleveland. The Magic take on the Cavaliers in a rematch of an Eastern Conference first-round series from last season.
鈥淚 felt it when it happened,鈥� Banchero said Friday, speaking with reporters in Cleveland after Orlando鈥檚 shootaround. 鈥淒idn鈥檛 know what it was but knew it didn鈥檛 feel good. Just tried to play through it, wanted to get it looked at after the game, was hoping it wasn鈥檛 too bad but obviously it was a little worse than I thought.鈥�
Banchero was off to a monster start 鈥� his 29 points per game ranked seventh in the league entering Friday. He鈥檚 one of only three players who started the day averaging that many points along with 8.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game. The others: Denver鈥檚 Nikola Jokic and Milwaukee鈥檚 Giannis Antetokounmpo.
鈥淚t sucks. There鈥檚 no other way to put it,鈥� Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. 鈥淚t sucks for him, the way in which he started this year, the way in which he was playing, the way he鈥檚 carrying us in so many ways. And in the same breath, you have to say it鈥檚 an opportunity 鈥� it鈥檚 an opportunity for guys to step up, step into their role, opportunity for guys to continue to play to our standard of basketball.鈥�
The Magic said Banchero will be evaluated in four to six weeks. He referenced the six-week timeline. If he misses six weeks, that means he鈥檒l be sidelined for at least 21 games. It would also mean he鈥檒l almost certainly be ineligible for most end-of-season NBA awards voting under the new policies that went into effect last season.
鈥淗opefully, it鈥檚 not a multi, three-, four-month injury,鈥� Banchero said. 鈥淗opefully, it鈥檚 just six, something weeks. Just trying to stay engaged as much as I can and stay positive, take it one day at a time and be ready to come back.鈥�
on Monday against Indiana, the first 鈥� and entering Friday, still only 鈥� 50-point game in the NBA this season. The Magic said he was hurt in the fourth quarter of Wednesday鈥檚 game in Chicago. Banchero, who finished that night with 31 points, was still on the floor at the end of that contest.
He intends to travel with the team while sidelined, Mosley said. Banchero will be involved in some coaches鈥� meetings, giving the 2022-23 rookie of the year, No. 1 overall draft pick and first-time All-Star last season a chance to see the game a different way.
鈥淚t鈥檚 another opportunity for his growth,鈥� Mosley said. 鈥淭here won鈥檛 be as much physical activity going on, but it鈥檒l be a mental version of it. His ability to be in some the coaches鈥� meetings, to see the game differently from that side of the floor, it鈥檚 an opportunity for his growth in that realm.鈥�
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AP NBA:
Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press
