Orlando Magic’s start to the season had already raised doubts, as we pointed out in our preview. Now, it is even harder to see how they will compete in an increasingly competitive Eastern Conference. Why? Because of the injury suffered by Paolo Banchero.
The Florida side were already hoping to get their season back on track after starting the 2026-27 NBA campaign with two consecutive defeats. Now they face several weeks without their biggest star, who has suffered a low-grade high ankle sprain. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, this type of injury typically requires four to six weeks of recovery.
The forward picked up the injury during Friday night’s game, which Orlando lost 115-93 to the Minnesota Timberwolves. After the match, Banchero told The Orlando Sentinel that he had begun to feel discomfort as early as the first quarter. He did not feature in the final 12 minutes.
Paolo Banchero and a story already familiar
Regardless of how many games Banchero has been available for in previous seasons, one thing is clear: the Magic have found it almost impossible to field a full-strength starting five consistently.
Over the last three seasons, Orlando have recorded 40 wins and 26 defeats when the quartet of Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs and Wendell Carter Jr. have all been on the court. According to ESPN, that represents just 66 games out of a possible 246, highlighting how badly injuries have affected the team.
(Photograph by IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)