ORLANDO, Fla. – Jonathan Isaac said there were times when he wondered if he would ever play in the NBA again.
“I would be lying to you if I said I had no doubts about this injury,” the Orlando Magic forward said Monday night. It’s part of coming back from an injury like this and taking that long.
“I thought, ‘I don’t know if I want to continue.’ But then again, God gave me a purpose: I was made to play basketball…so I would continue the process no matter what anyone said.”
Isaac finally came back after 2 1/2 years and helped the Magic beat the Boston Celtics 113-98. The 6-foot-10 power forward scored 10 points, grabbed three rebounds and added a couple of steals in his limited time on the floor.
“The league can be unforgiving,” said Joe Mazzulla, Boston interim coach. “Guys with injuries go through ups and downs. That he’s fought his way through the last two years and worked on it mentally and physically every day is a win.
“There’s so much going on in the league all the time. The guys are getting stronger and bigger and faster and that’s why I think it’s amazing to be able to play at such a level against such adversities. You have to be able to accept that in this league , because a lot is constantly changing.”
Isaac originally injured his knee on January 1, 2020. He returned seven months later but tore his left ACL while playing at Disney World in his second game in the NBA bubble.
Only three Magic players remain on the roster who played with Isaac before his knee injury. And Monday night was his first game under coach Jamahl Mosley.
“We’re all looking forward to him,” Mosley said. “They talk about the number of days he’s been out, years…his ability to come back and stay the course throughout the process with his faith and his work ethic and the support system that he has behind him has just been tremendous.
“For what he’s been through, the ups and downs, the ups and downs and his ability to be resilient and stay true and keep working no matter what, these moments are to be embraced. Enjoy the moment.”
Isaac played about 9 1/2 minutes and Mosley said Magic will continue to play him in short stints to see how his knee reacts and how he adjusts to his teammates.
“He’s going to help us tremendously, man, especially defensively,” said guard Cole Anthony. “We need that.”
After being drafted sixth overall from Florida State in 2017, Isaac played 134 games in his first three NBA seasons. He played 75 games in 2018-19, averaging 9.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in Orlando’s only winning season since 2011-12. Before his NBA return Monday night, he played 52 minutes in three G-League games with Lakeland Magic.
Now he’s back after missing 211 games.
“It felt fantastic,” he said. “Tonight barely scratches the surface of what this team is trying to be. I truly believe the sky is the limit.”
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