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Jonathan Isaac

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"Jon Isaac" redirects here. For the Hall of Fame basketball player who was active in the 20th century, see John Isaacs. For other people with similar names, see John Isaac (disambiguation).

Jonathan Isaac
Isaac with the Orlando Magic in 2019
No. 1 – Orlando Magic
PositionPower forward / small forward
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1997-10-03) October 3, 1997 (age 27)
The Bronx, New York, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High school
CollegeFlorida State (2016–2017)
NBA draft2017: 1st round, 6th overall pick
Selected by the Orlando Magic
Playing career2017–present
Career history
2017–presentOrlando Magic
2018, 2023→Lakeland Magic
Career highlights and awards
  • ACC All-Freshman team (2017)
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Jonathan Judah Isaac (born October 3, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for one season for the Florida State Seminoles.

Isaac was selected sixth overall by the Magic in the 2017 NBA draft.

High school career

[edit]
Isaac at the 2016 Jordan Brand Classic

Isaac first attended Barron Collier High School in Naples, Florida during his freshman and sophomore years. In his junior and senior years, he attended the International School of Broward in Hollywood, Florida. However, as a result of wanting to be reclassified as part of the high school class of 2016, Isaac also attended IMG Academy for what was considered to be a postgraduate year in 2016.[1] As a senior in 2016, he averaged 17.6 points per game and 10.0 rebounds per game while leading IMG Academy to a 21–10 overall record. In his high school career, he grew six inches from his freshman year to his senior year, going from a combo guard of sorts to the combo forward he is today. Isaac was selected to play in the 2016 Jordan Brand Classic and Nike Hoop Summit All-Star games. Isaac was rated as a five-star recruit and ranked as the No.12 overall recruit and No.4 Small forward in the 2016 high school class.[2][3] On July 5, 2015, Isaac confirmed that he was going to commit to Florida State after his senior year of high school ended.[4]

On February 5, 2016, he announced his intention of testing the possibility of entering the 2016 NBA draft as the first American postgraduate to jump directly from high school to the NBA draft since 2005. He was also considered a prospect that could have been taken in the middle or late first round had he committed to it.[5] Four days after making that announcement, however, Isaac confirmed that he was not going to enter the 2016 draft after all and reaffirmed his intentions of playing with Florida State for the 2016–17 season.[6]

College recruiting information
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Jonathan Isaac
#4 SF 		Naples, FL IMG Academy 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Jun 7, 2015 
Star ratings: Scout:5/5 stars   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:5/5 stars
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 5th (3 SF)   Rivals: 8th  247Sports: 8th (2 SF)  ESPN: 12th (4 SF)
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2016 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

College career

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Before the 2016–17 season began, Isaac was considered a preseason watch for the Karl Malone Award. Isaac would record his first double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds in a 100–71 win over Detroit on November 20. He'd earned the ACC Freshman of the Week award for his performances from November 15–21, 2016.[7] On January 18, 2017, Isaac recorded 23 points, 10 rebounds, and a season-high 7 blocks in a win over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.[8] On February 8, 2017, Isaac scored 21 points in a 95–71 victory against the NC State Wolfpack. Throughout the season, Isaac was considered a team leader alongside fellow prospects Dwayne Bacon and Xavier Rathan-Mayes, to the point where they at one point were considered the sixth-best team in the nation. As the second seed in the ACC tournament, Florida State beat Virginia Tech in the quarterfinals, but lost to Notre Dame in the semi-finals. His team then proceeded to the NCAA Tournament, where they were seeded 3rd in the West. They won their first-round game 86–80 against FGCU at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. However, they lost in the round of 32 in a blowout upset against 11th-seeded Xavier, 91–66. Isaac scored just 25 points in two games In his NCAA Tournament career. At the conclusion of his freshman season, he was named to the All-ACC Freshman Team of 2017.[9] In addition to that, Isaac announced his intention to forgo his final three years of collegiate eligibility and enter the 2017 NBA draft where he was projected as a lottery first round selection.[10] He was the second player in Florida State's basketball history to leave as a one-and-done prospect, behind Malik Beasley in 2016.

Professional career

[edit]

Orlando Magic (2017–present)

[edit]

On June 22, 2017, Isaac was selected with the sixth overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft by the Orlando Magic. On December 28, he was ruled out with a right ankle sprain. On February 23, 2018, he was assigned to the Lakeland Magic of the NBA G League for rehabilitation purposes.[11]

In his second year in the league, Isaac became a starter for the Magic in 64 games, posting career-high averages in points, rebounds, assists, and blocks per game. On January 31, 2019, he recorded a career-high 13 rebounds in a 107–100 win over the Indiana Pacers.[12] On February 10, he matched his career-high of 5 blocks, to go along with 17 points and 2 steals in a 124–108 win over the Atlanta Hawks.[13] On February 12, he scored a career-high 20 points in a 118–88 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.[14]

Isaac improved on his previous career-high in scoring by posting 24 points in a 95–104 loss to the Toronto Raptors on October 28, 2019.[15] On January 1, 2020, he suffered a posterior lateral corner injury and a medial bone contusion in his left knee during a 122–101 win over the Washington Wizards and was expected to be sidelined for about eight to ten weeks.[16][17] On August 2, Isaac suffered a torn left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during a 132–116 win over the Sacramento Kings hosted in the 2020 NBA Bubble.[18][19] Isaac later underwent successful surgery on August 7 to repair his torn left ACL and meniscus, and was expected to miss the remainder of 2019–20 NBA season.[20] On August 31, Magic team president Jeff Weltman confirmed Isaac would also miss the entire 2020–21 season with the injury.[21]

On March 15, 2022, Weltman announced that Isaac would miss the remainder of the 2021–22 NBA season due to the injury. He had not yet played during the season.[22] On March 22, Isaac suffered a minor injury to his right hamstring during his rehab and underwent a surgical procedure.[23]

On January 10, 2023, Isaac was assigned to the Magic's G League affiliate for just one game.[24] On January 23, he returned to the court after over two and a half years, recording 10 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals in 9 minutes in a 113–98 win over the Boston Celtics.[25] On February 28, during practice in Milwaukee, Isaac felt discomfort, and an MRI a day later revealed a torn left adductor muscle. On March 3, he underwent season-ending surgery to address the injury.[26]

Career statistics

[edit]
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

NBA

[edit]

Regular season

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2017–18 Orlando 27 10 19.8 .379 .348 .760 3.7 .7 1.2 1.1 5.4
2018–19 Orlando 75 64 26.6 .429 .323 .815 5.5 1.1 .8 1.3 9.6
2019–20 Orlando 34 32 28.8 .470 .340 .779 6.8 1.4 1.6 2.3 11.9
2022–23 Orlando 11 0 11.3 .415 .400 .556 4.0 .5 1.3 .4 5.0
2023–24 Orlando 58 2 15.8 .510 .375 .720 4.5 .5 .7 1.2 6.8
Career 205 108 22.2 .449 .341 .771 5.1 .9 1.0 1.4 8.4

Playoffs

[edit]
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2019 Orlando 5 5 27.3 .275 .200 .875 6.2 .4 .4 1.0 6.6
2024 Orlando 7 3 21.0 .410 .370 1.000 4.9 .4 .7 1.3 6.3
Career 12 8 23.7 .342 .298 .900 5.4 .4 .6 1.2 6.4

College

[edit]
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2016–17 Florida State 32 32 26.2 .508 .348 .780 7.8 1.2 1.2 1.5 12.0

Personal life

[edit]

Isaac is one of six children born to Jackie Allen. He has one older sister, two older brothers, and two younger brothers. Isaac is of Puerto Rican descent due to his maternal grandfather and is eligible to play for the Puerto Rican national team.[27][28]

Isaac was raised as a Christian and attended church but did not embrace his religion until after he entered the NBA.[29] He has preached at Jump Ministries Global Church in Orlando.[30]

Isaac developed anxiety as a middle school student when he struggled to fit in as a black student among predominantly white classmates.[29] His anxiety persisted through his college season and early NBA years.[29]

In a July 31, 2020, game against the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA Bubble, Isaac was the only player to stand during the U.S. national anthem. When asked about this decision after the game, he responded:

I believe that black lives matter. A lot went into my decision ... It's my thought that kneeling or wearing a 'Black Lives Matter' t-shirt don't go hand in hand with supporting black lives ... I feel like Black lives are supported through the gospel, all lives are supported through the gospel. And we all have things that we do wrong and sometimes it gets to a place of pointing fingers about who’s wrong is worse…We all fall short of God’s glory, and at the end of the day, whoever will humble themselves and seek God and repent their sins, then we can see it in a different light. See our mistakes, and see people’s mistakes in a different light. See people’s evil in a different light. And that it would help bring us closer together and get past anything that’s on the surface that doesn’t really deal with the hearts of men and women.[31]

Isaac spoke at the ReAwaken America Tour on standing during the anthem and declining the COVID-19 vaccine.[32]

On September 18, 2021, Isaac married his fiancée, Takita Nicole Thomas.[33]

Books

[edit]

On May 17, 2022, Isaac's first book Why I Stand was published. In the book, Isaac shares how his Christian faith shaped his life and helped him overcome various struggles.[34]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Thamel, Pete. "Could Jon Isaac enter NBA draft straight from HS?". Sports Illustrated.
  2. ^ "Jonathan Isaac – Basketball Recruiting – player profiles". ESPN. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  3. ^ "Jonathan Isaac Interview - NBADraft.net". NBAdraft.net. February 25, 2016.
  4. ^ Borzello, Jeff (July 6, 2015). "Jonathan Isaac commits to Seminoles". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  5. ^ O'Donnell, Ricky (February 5, 2016). "Jonathan Isaac to test NBA Draft with new loophole". SB Nation.
  6. ^ "FSU hoops recruit Jonathan Isaac will not opt for 2016 NBA Draft". Tallahassee Democrat.
  7. ^ "Atlantic Coast Conference Announces Basketball Players of the Week". theacc.com. Atlantic Coast Conference. November 21, 2016. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  8. ^ "Isaac leads No.10 Florida State past No.15 Notre Dame". ESPN.com. January 18, 2017. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  9. ^ "ACC Announces All-Conference Team, Postseason Awards". theacc.com. Atlantic Coast Conference. March 5, 2017. Retrieved March 5, 2017.
  10. ^ Safid Deen (March 24, 2017). "FSU's Jonathan Isaac declares for NBA draft". orlandosentinal.com. Archived from the original on September 10, 2017. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
  11. ^ Jonathan Isaac Will Play for Lakeland Magic on Friday
  12. ^ "Ross scores 30 as Magic hand Pacers 4th straight loss". ESPN. February 1, 2019. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  13. ^ "Vucevic leads Magic to 3rd straight win, 124–08 over Hawks". ESPN. February 11, 2019. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  14. ^ "Anthony Davis scores three points, critical of Pelicans' effort in loss". ESPN. February 13, 2019. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  15. ^ "Magic vs. Raptors – Game Recap – October 28, 2019 – ESPN".
  16. ^ "Jonathan Isaac Injury Update". NBA.com. January 2, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  17. ^ "NBA: Orlando Magic's Jonathan Isaac is first player not to kneel for anthem since restart". BBC. August 1, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  18. ^ "Magic's Isaac suffers torn ACL". NBA.com. August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  19. ^ "PRESS RELEASE: Jonathan Isaac injury update". Orlando Magic on Twitter.com. August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  20. ^ "Jonathan Isaac Undergoes Successful Surgery to Repair Torn ACL". NBA.com. August 7, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  21. ^ "Jonathan Isaac to miss entire 2020–21 season after suffering a knee injury in the bubble, per Magic president". CBS Sports. August 31, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  22. ^ "Jonathan Isaac to Miss Remainder of 2021–22 Regular Season". NBA. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  23. ^ "Jonathan Isaac Undergoes Procedure on Right Hamstring". NBA. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  24. ^ @LakelandMagic (January 10, 2023). "Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac has been assigned to the Lakeland Magic. Lakeland hosts the Westchester Knicks on Wednesday, January 11 at RP Funding Center. Game time is 7 p.m. Tickets are available at lakelandmagic.com/promotions" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  25. ^ "Magic Defeat Celtics in Jonathan Isaac Debut". si.com. January 23, 2023. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  26. ^ "Orlando Magic PR on Twitter: "PRESS RELEASE: @OrlandoMagic forward Jonathan Isaac to miss remainder of the 2022–23 regular season #MagicTogether"". Twitter. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  27. ^ El enebeísta Jonathan Isaac le daría el "sí" a Puerto Rico (in Spanish)
  28. ^ Puerto Rico fuera del plan de Jonathan Isaac (in Spanish)
  29. ^ a b c Klinker, Ryan (September 1, 2023). "NBA's Jonathan Isaac recounts decision to stand up for his faith, charges Liberty students to do the same". Liberty University. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  30. ^ "Magic's Jonathan Isaac explains why he didn't take a knee or wear Black Lives Matter shirt Friday". CBSSports.com. August 2020.
  31. ^ Cali, Mike (July 31, 2020). "Jonathan Isaac explains why he stood during national anthem". www.orlandopinstripedpost.com.
  32. ^ "Jonathan Isaac talks at ReAwaken America Tour about refusing the vaccine". Eurohoops. May 15, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  33. ^ "https://twitter.com/MagicNationCP/status/1439380617150414851?s=20". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved November 25, 2023. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  34. ^ "Why I Stand by Jonathan Isaac". Barnes & Nobile.
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