Injured Magic All-Star Paolo Banchero reportedly expected to return to court this week

Injured Orlando Magic All-Star Paolo Banchero is expected to return to the court this week, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports.

Per the report, Banchero will make his return either on Thursday against the Minnesota Timberwolves or Friday against the Milwaukee Bucks. Banchero has been sidelined since Oct. 30 with a torn oblique that he suffered while playing against the Chicago Bulls.

Banchero has played in just five games this season and has missed 33. His is one of a rash of injuries to key Magic players, including an oblique tear that’s sidelined breakout forward Franz Wagner 13 games and counting since Dec. 6.

Despite the injuries, the Magic are off to a 22-16 start, good for fourth place in the Eastern Conference.

A third-year pro and the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Banchero made his first All-Star team last season and helped lead the Magic to their first playoff appearance since 2020. In the five games he’s played this season, Banchero improved on his All-Star numbers across the board. Before his injury, Banchero was averaging 29 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game while shooting 49.5% from the field and 34.4% on 6.4 3-point attempts per game.

Banchero returns to a Magic team that’s in position to compete for a seed in the top half of the Eastern Conference playoff bracket after earning the No. 5 seed and losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round last postseason. Wagner, meanwhile, remains without a clear timetable to return. His brother and Magic backup Moritz Wagner is out for the season with a torn ACL.