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Orlando's Paolo Banchero won't play for a few weeks. The Magic see it as an opportunity for everyone

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Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero shoots over Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

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 teamā€™s 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.

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ā€œI felt it when it happened,ā€ Banchero said Friday, speaking with reporters in Cleveland after Orlandoā€™s shootaround. ā€œDidnā€™t know what it was but knew it didnā€™t feel good. Just tried to play through it, wanted to get it looked at after the game, was hoping it wasnā€™t too bad but obviously it was a little worse than I thought.ā€

Banchero was off to a monster start ā€” his 29 points per game ranked seventh in the league entering Friday. Heā€™s 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: Denverā€™s Nikola Jokic and Milwaukeeā€™s Giannis Antetokounmpo.

ā€œIt sucks. Thereā€™s no other way to put it,ā€ Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. ā€œIt sucks for him, the way in which he started this year, the way in which he was playing, the way heā€™s carrying us in so many ways. And in the same breath, you have to say itā€™s an opportunity ā€” itā€™s an opportunity for guys to step up, step into their role, opportunity for guys to continue to play to our standard of basketball.ā€

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 heā€™ll be sidelined for at least 21 games. It would also mean heā€™ll almost certainly be ineligible for most end-of-season NBA awards voting under the new policies that went into effect last season.

ā€œHopefully, itā€™s not a multi, three-, four-month injury,ā€ Banchero said. ā€œHopefully, itā€™s 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.ā€

Banchero had a career-high 50 points on Monday against Indiana, the first ā€” and entering Friday, still only ā€” 50-point game in the NBA this season. The Magic said he was hurt in the fourth quarter of Wednesdayā€™s 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 coachesā€™ 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.

ā€œItā€™s another opportunity for his growth,ā€ Mosley said. ā€œThere wonā€™t be as much physical activity going on, but itā€™ll be a mental version of it. His ability to be in some the coachesā€™ meetings, to see the game differently from that side of the floor, itā€™s an opportunity for his growth in that realm.ā€

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba


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