Paolo Banchero Injured, Latest NBA Rumors on Magic Star's Timeline to Return from Ankle Injury

Things are going from bad to worse for the Orlando Magic amid an 0-2 start with Paolo Banchero likely to miss multiple weeks after leaving Friday's loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves early due to a right ankle injury.

Per ESPN's Shams Charania , Banchero has been diagnosed with a low-grade high-ankle sprain that typically carries a four-to-six week recovery timeline.

Banchero appeared to tweak his ankle early in the third quarter when he collided with Jalen Suggs going for a rebound. He went to the locker room and did not return.

This marks the second time in the last three seasons that Banchero has suffered a significant injury early in the year. He suffered a torn oblique in the fifth game of the 2024-25 season and missed more than two months.

The ankle injury may not keep Banchero out for that long, but it does leave the Magic once again in a difficult spot as they try to replace his production.

Orlando was held to 93 points against the Timberwolves on Friday night. It was the fifth-lowest scoring game by a team in the still-early 2026-27 season.

Banchero leads the Magic in scoring average (24.5 points per game), assists (7.5) and shot 69.6 percent from the field through the first two games. His absence will put more of the onus on Franz Wagner and Desmond Bane for offense.

Tristan Da Silva will likely move into Banchero's spot in the starting lineup. The third-year forward is off to a slow start, but he shot 37.4 percent from three-point range on 4.2 attempts per game in 77 appearances last season.

The Magic are off on Saturday before beginning a three-game road trip on Sunday against the defending NBA champion New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.