Cruelly timed setback for Duke Basketball Pro Paolo Banchero

Paolo Banchero, the freshman center on Duke basketball’s most recent Final Four team before coming off the board No. 1 overall to the Orlando Magic at the 2022 NBA Draft, enjoyed an epic start to his third campaign in the league. But it now appears the 21-year-old forward’s skill beyond his years has been put on hold for probably at least a month.

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On Thursday, Orlando president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman announced that Banchero has a torn right bevel and is out indefinitely. The 2022-23 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 4-6 weeks.

Earlier this week, the 6-foot-10, 250-pound Banchero became the youngest player since LeBron James to record at least 50 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a single outing. The 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 statement performance with 31 points, seven rebounds and four assists against Chicago.

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

The Magic and its starting frontcourt’s other former Duke basketball one-and-done, seventh-year NBA big man Wendell Carter Jr., next face off in a road game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at 7:00 PM ET on Friday.

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