Cruelly timed setback for Duke Basketball Pro Paolo Banchero

Paolo Banchero, the first-year center on Duke Basketball’s most recent Final Four team before coming off the board as the No. 1 overall pick to the Orlando Magic during the 2022 NBA Draft, enjoyed an epic start to his third campaign in the competition. But it now looks like the 21-year-old forward’s eligibility will likely be put on hold for at least a month.

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On Thursday, Orlando president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman announced that Banchero has a torn right oblique and is out indefinitely. The 2022-2023 NBA Rookie of the Year and reigning first-time All-Star suffered the injury during the fourth quarter of the Magic’s 102-99 road loss to the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night.

Weltman added that Banchero will be reevaluated in four to six weeks.

Earlier this week, the 6-foot-4, 250-pound Banchero became the youngest player since LeBron James to record at least 50 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in one outing. That career-best stat line of 50 points, 13 boards and nine dimes came in Monday night’s 119-115 home win over the Indiana Pacers.

Banchero followed up that performance with 31 points, seven rebounds and four assists against Chicago.

During Orlando’s 3-2 start, he averaged 29.0 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists while shooting 49.5 percent from the field, undoubtedly on track for his first All-NBA nod after the 2023-24 Magic to the franchise’s first playoff appearance since 2020.

The Magic and the other former Duke basketball player, seventh-year NBA big man Wendell Carter Jr., next face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday at 7 p.m. ET.

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