Paolo Banchero discussed his recent groin injury and expected return to action. After losing to the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2024-2025 Eastern Conference playoffs, the Magic added Desmond Bane to their roster in an effort to improve their postseason chances this season.
The Magic currently hold a 6-6 record and have won two straight games, including a recent victory over Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks. Despite the encouraging result, the game was marked by an unfortunate setback — an injury to Paolo Banchero, who played just 12 minutes before getting hurt.
Paolo Banchero Assures Orlando Magic Fans That He Will Return Soon
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that an MRI on Thursday confirmed Banchero has a left groin strain. Charania said Banchero will miss Friday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets and will be evaluated daily moving forward.
While Banchero has remained relatively healthy so far in his young career, he tore his oblique last year, an injury that significantly hampered his movement. Banchero compared the strained groin he recently sustained in the game against the Knicks to his earlier injury, noting that his limited mobility and frequent pain made such injuries particularly frustrating.
During a recent interview, the Orlando Magic star said he would be getting an MRI to assess his current groin injury. Although this may sound serious, Banchero did his best to reassure the Magic fan base by saying he would return to the court sooner than expected.
“I’ll get the MRI and start treatment from there. But hopefully, (the timeline is) not very long.”
Paolo Banchero (groin) said he’ll undergo MRI on Thursday, via @FredKatz.
“I’ll get the MRI and start treatment from there. But hopefully, (the timeline is) not very long.”
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) November 13, 2025
Although Banchero did not specify a date for his expected return, it is clear that he will be sidelined for the next few games. This is unfortunate for the Magic, who will play teams like the Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors, and Los Angeles Clippers over the upcoming week.
The Magic will have a rematch with the Knicks on Nov. 23, a chance for Brunson and his squad to settle the score. While Banchero might miss about a week of action, he might be ready to return for the game against the Knicks.
All of this depends on his MRI showing nothing concerning. If Banchero’s groin problem turns out to be worse than anticipated, he could be sidelined for additional games as he goes through rehabilitation and recovery.
