Paolo Banchero: No timetable for return

Paolo Banchero, a 23-year-old forward for the Orlando Magic, is currently sidelined due to a left groin strain and has no timetable for his return. Coach Jamahl Mosley confirmed Thursday that the team does not set timelines, stating, "They don't put timelines on it. As he recovers from each session, we'll go from there." Banchero will miss his fourth straight game against the Clippers, and the Magic do not anticipate an imminent return. His 2025 stats include 21.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.9 blocks. Banchero signed a two-year, $22.66 million contract with the Magic in July of 2022. The Magic exercised his $12.16 million team option for 2024-25 in October of 2023, and his $15.33 million team option for 2025-26 in October of 2024. He signed a five-year maximum rookie extension in July of 2025. Banchero was born November 12, 2002, in Seattle, Washington. His mother, Rhonda, played college basketball at Washington and professionally, becoming a coach. His father, Mario, played college football at Washington. Banchero, of Italian descent, received Italian citizenship in February 2020. He played basketball, football, and track growing up, ranking among the top 50 eighth-graders nationally in both sports. At O'Dea High School, he was a backup quarterback on the state championship team as a freshman, averaging 14.1 points and 10.2 rebounds in basketball. As a sophomore, he led the school to a Class 3A state championship, averaging 18.2 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists, earning MVP honors. As a junior, he was named Washington Gatorade Player of the Year and MaxPreps Junior of the Year with 22.6 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.6 blocks per game. He was a five-star recruit, named to the McDonald's All-American Game and Jordan Brand Classic rosters. He committed to Duke in August 2020, where he averaged 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.1 steals in 33.0 minutes across 39 freshman appearances, earning ACC Freshman of the Year and Consensus All-American Second Team honors. He was selected No. 1 overall by the Orlando Magic in the 2022 NBA Draft.