Breaking News: Paolo Banchero’s Injury a Major Setback for Orlando Magic!

Hello, my name is Dan Gartland. This morning has been all about repeatedly watching Garrett Wilson’s spectacular touchdown reception, and I’m nowhere near ready to stop.

What’s on the agenda for today’s SI:AM:

A major NBA injury

Army’s resurgence

Disappointing News

A significant injury has struck one of the NBA’s most promising squads, with news breaking on Thursday that their star player is out for at least a month.

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero has suffered a torn oblique muscle, as confirmed by the team, and will be out of action indefinitely. He is set for re-evaluation in four to six weeks.

This is a severe setback for a team that was looking to build upon a breakthrough 2023–24 season, which saw them achieve their first winning record in five years before bowing out in the first round of the playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers in a seven-game thriller. Banchero was a pivotal figure in the team’s recent success. After clinching the Rookie of the Year award in ’22–23, he earned an All-Star selection in his second season, topping the Magic’s charts in scoring, rebounding, and assists. Already, in just five games this season, he was demonstrating his potential to remain a leading figure in the league. Last Monday, the 22-year-old racked up 50 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists in a narrow four-point victory over the Indiana Pacers, setting a record as the youngest player in the franchise to score 50 points and the second youngest in NBA history to achieve at least 50 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in a single game.

Banchero had proven himself as one of the league’s most resilient players during his first two seasons. He appeared in 72 games as a rookie and was one of only 29 players to play in at least 80 games last season, ranking fifth in the entire league for minutes played.

The loss of Banchero is a critical blow for a team that seemed on the cusp of further progress this season. Alongside Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs, who is among the league’s top defensive guards and a reliable three-point shooter, Banchero forms a formidable young core with the capacity to maintain the Magic’s competitive edge for the foreseeable future. At 23, Suggs is the oldest of the trio. The team also made important moves in the offseason, securing several key role players by re-signing Moritz Wagner, Gary Harris, and Goga Bitadze.

The most significant acquisition, however, was the signing of veteran Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to a three-year, $66 million contract. Caldwell-Pope not only brings lethal three-point shooting and solid perimeter defense, but he also introduces a much-needed element of championship pedigree, which was conspicuously absent from last season’s squad. The Magic had the least postseason experience of any team in the 2024 playoff field, measured by cumulative career playoff games.

Before the previous season, only four Orlando players had postseason experience, totaling 91 playoff games—50 of those played by Joe Ingles, who is no longer with the team. Caldwell-Pope, on the other hand, has participated in 62 playoff games and has two championship rings (2020 with the Los Angeles Lakers and ’23 with the Denver Nuggets).

Bringing Caldwell-Pope on board was a clear indication that the Magic were aiming to position themselves among the elite of the Eastern Conference. This was no longer just a promising young team; it was a seasoned group poised to be serious contenders.

However, Banchero’s injury complicates those aspirations. Even if his recovery takes only the minimum four weeks mentioned in the team’s announcement, he would still miss 15 games. A six-week absence would extend that to 21 games—a significant portion of the season. Although the updated playoff structure, which includes a play-in tournament for teams ranked as low as 10th, offers some leeway, a team that finished fifth in the conference last year would undoubtedly be disappointed if its postseason chances hinged on this uncertainty. The Magic will need to find ways to compensate for Banchero’s comprehensive contributions, or else they might face a delay in realizing their full potential.

Sports Illustrated Highlights

• Pat Forde made a trip to West Point to discover how Army has become an undefeated contender in the College Football Playoff amid a rapidly evolving landscape in college sports.

• The Jets have kept their playoff hopes alive after ending their losing streak with a victory over the Texans, and Gilberto Manzano offers a critical take on what this loss reveals about Houston.

• Our college basketball season preview continues with more content launching Monday. Kevin Sweeney provides best- and worst-case scenarios for every team in the men’s AP top 25, while Kristen Nelson and Clare Brennan analyze the women’s top 25.

• Zach Koons highlights an obvious choice at the top of his college football watchability rankings this week.

• Koons also previews this weekend’s F1 Brazilian Grand Prix, which is among the final races of the season.

• Freddie Freeman didn’t just play through an ankle injury during his remarkable World Series performance; he also endured a severe rib issue.

Top Five Moments

… highlights I witnessed last night:

5. Kyrie Irving’s fadeaway buzzer beater that closed the third quarter.

4. Ja Morant’s incredible alley-oop from a seated position.

3. The intense brawl between the Oilers’ Vasily Podkolzin and the Predators’ Jeremy Lauzon, which featured three powerful punches by Podkolzin.

2. Southern Nazarene’s game-winning tight end screen that led to a surprising 18–17 victory over Ouachita Baptist. Entering the game at 0–8, Southern Nazarene faced the No. 3 team in Division II on the road and emerged victorious.

1. Garrett Wilson’s remarkable one-handed touchdown catch, a play that was highly reminiscent of another iconic catch at MetLife Stadium.