Even though an oblique injury has halted a phenomenal start to the season for Paolo Banchero, the returns for how the Orlando Magic were using their star forward have been extremely positive.

One veteran scout told ESPN’s Brian Windhorst that the Magic’s use of Banchero reminded the scout of how LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo have been used at their best.

“No one wants to be compared to LeBron or Giannis, but he’s their size, he’s got a comparable skill set and the Magic are using him the way those guys have been used,” the scout said.

Banchero’s 31.5 percent usage rate this season ranks 15th overall, but he is fourth among non-guards behind Antetokounmpo (33.7), Jaylen Brown (32.9) and Anthony Davis (31.3).

ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Thursday that Banchero was diagnosed with a torn right oblique that will keep him sidelined indefinitely. He will be re-evaluated in four to six weeks, with a return timeline determined based on how he responds to treatment.

After making the All-Star team and leading the Magic to their first playoff appearance in four years last season, Banchero looked like he leveled up again to start the 2024-25 campaign.

The 21-year-old averaged 29.0 points on 49.5 percent shooting, 8.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game in five starts. He finished one assist shy of a 50-point triple-double in Orlando’s 119-115 win over the Indiana Pacers on Monday.

Banchero suffered the injury during Orlando’s loss to the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, but he made it through all four quarters and finished with a game-high 31 points.

The most encouraging signs from Banchero have been his improvements as a passer and shooter. His 5.6 assists per game is the highest rate of his career, up slightly from the 5.4 mark he had last season.

While he’s not yet a great shooter from three-point range, Banchero was connecting on 39.1 percent of his attempts before a 2-of-9 performance against the Bulls. He is also willing to keep shooting even if it’s not falling, averaging a career-high 6.4 attempts from behind the arc.

Despite what will be the longest absence of his young NBA career so far, Banchero’s ascent to becoming a true go-to superstar has offered the Magic their biggest reason for hope since the end of the Dwight Howard era.

Any comparison to James and Antetokounmpo speaks to how highly regarded Banchero already is and what his ceiling could be as he continues to get more experience.

As long as the Magic can get Banchero back in the lineup relatively soon, they could be one of the top challengers to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference this season based on how he was playing before the injury.