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Isaac last played against the Wizards at Kia Center on March 12, the night he suffered a left knee sprain. He missed the final 17 games of the regular season as well as all seven first-round playoff games. According to Isaac, he’s still managing the same injury. “It’s the same thing,” he told the Orlando Sentinel after shootaround ahead of Wednesday’s game against the Raptors inside Scotiabank Arena. “It was a sprain and a bruise. And I’ve had a little bit of nerve issue on the left side of my knee. So dealing with that, it’s been a slow process unfortunately, but it’s been steady. So, I’m happy that I know I’ll play this season.”
Isaac, who often wears a brace on his left knee as he works out on the court, told the Orlando Sentinel he recently played 3-on-3 and the next steps include playing 4-on-4 and eventually 5-on-5. “I’m feeling good,” he said. “I’m happy with my progress so far. … I’m hoping to get back with the team and ease my way back into playing. But I feel good. I’m happy with myself, the work, the coaching staff, the training staff, everybody.”
Jason Beede: After making his season debut at New York, #Magic guard Anthony Black is no longer listed on the injury report for Wednesday’s game at Toronto. Orlando expectedly won’t have Paolo Banchero, Jalen Suggs, Jonathan Isaac, Noah Penda or Izaiyah Nelson against the Raptors.
Jason Beede: The #Magic have upgraded Anthony Black (right ankle sprain) to Questionable for Sunday’s game at New York. Paolo Banchero (right low grade high ankle sprain), Jonathan Isaac (left knee injury management), Noah Penda (right partially torn hamstring) and Izaiyah Nelson are OUT.
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A few years ago it might have been. Isaac, who’s starting his 10th season with the Orlando Magic, spent a stretch of his career as one of the league’s most visibly Christian players, with invitations to talk about faith on stages and broadcasts. Lately, he’s been quieter. He says that’s on purpose. “I definitely felt the pressure of feeling like I had to speak out or say something, or kind of just wear my Christianity on my sleeve in a way that was going to make everybody else feel good,” he told RELEVANT. “And that really is tough. It’s a tough thing to deal with, even when you’re struggling in the background with faith or with your own struggles, while still having to present a certain way to other people.”
Eventually, Isaac decided to pull back. “I’ve definitely taken a step back from being as vocal,” he said. “I don’t speak as much. I don’t do as much as I’ve done in the past, just from a standpoint of wanting to focus on myself and my relationship with Christ and growing in that way, rather than being what everybody else needs you to be.”
The way he puts it now is that following Jesus is hard enough without an audience. “Just Christianity as a whole — it’s hard enough in today’s age to be faithful, to seek and search after God and to cultivate that relationship. It’s hard enough to do that, period,” he said. “Then to do it with eyes on you, and pressure, and people coming around for the wrong reasons, and having difficulty trusting it. It’s a lot.”
Jason Beede: #Magic forward Jonathan Isaac just spoke with us. “I’m glad to be back,” he said after re-signing this summer. Isaac, who ended last season injured due to a left knee sprain, said he won’t be fully ready to open training camp. “We’re expecting to be fine,” he said.
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Michael Scotto: JUST IN: The Orlando Magic and Jonathan Isaac have agreed to a one-year deal, league sources told @hoopshype .
Michael Scotto: Jonathan Isaac was guaranteed $8 million of his $14.5 million salary for the 2026-27 season. The following two seasons on his deal were non-guaranteed. The 28-year-old, 6-foot-10 forward now becomes an unrestricted free agent.
With the move, the Magic give themselves some financial flexibility by creating more space below the second apron and lowering their projected luxury payment from roughly $16.5 million down to around $10 million for the upcoming season. The franchise is expected to pay luxury tax for the first time in over a decade. While Isaac could still re-sign with Orlando, he will also be allowed to negotiate with all other clubs as a free agent starting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday. Teams may begin signing free agents to contracts at 12:01 p.m. on July 6.
Michael Scotto: JUST IN: The Orlando Magic has waived Jonathan Isaac, league sources told @hoopshype. The former sixth overall pick of the 2017 NBA Draft averaged 6.8 points and 4.5 rebounds in seven seasons with the Magic.
