Magic star Paolo Banchero out indefinitely with torn oblique

Paolo Banchero enjoyed the first 50-point game of his career on Monday. Three days later, it is unclear when the Orlando Magic star will play again.

Banchero has been diagnosed with a torn right oblique and is out indefinitely, The Magic announced Thursday. He suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of a 102-99 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday and will be reevaluated in four to six weeks.

The injury brings a screeching halt to what was supposed to be a breakout season for the former no. 1 total choice. After a 2022-23 Rookie of the Year award and an All-Star nod last season, Banchero averaged career highs nearly across the board in his first five games, including points (29 per game), rebounds (8, 8), assists (5.6) ), field-goal percentage (49.5%) and 3-point percentage (34.4%), plus a career low in turnovers (2.2).

Much of that leap forward could be attributed to Monday, when he dropped 50 points on the Indiana Pacers, with 37 of them in the first half, in a 119-115 victory.

At the minimum end of the schedule, a four-week recovery period would still cause Banchero to miss 15 games for the 3-2 Magic. He played at least 72 games in each of his first two years, but likely won’t meet that mark this season.