In Sunday’s 109-92 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac suffered what looked like a serious leg injury. Isaac only played two minutes against the Hawks, recording just one rebound. Since joining the NBA, Isaac’s injury history has become well-documented. The Florida State alum missed both the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons due to an ACL injury. Because of this, there was a deep cause for concern after Isaac went down on Sunday. However, per the Magic’s official X account, Isaac’s MRI results “showed no significant injuries to his left knee/leg.” Additionally, the forward is questionable to play in tomorrow’s game against the Brooklyn Nets.
This season, Isaac has played 40 games, starting one of them. In these games, the defensive specialist is averaging 6.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game.
When healthy, Isaac provides a huge boost to the Magic, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Even if he misses any amount of time, it seems like he caught a break this time around.
NBA News: Jonathan Isaac Injury Update
Jonathan Isaac’s Impact With the Orlando Magic
Isaac has the tools to be one of the best defensive players in the NBA. He is a tall, versatile defender who can guard any position. Furthermore, his athleticism allows him to be a force on defense. In October, teammate Cole Anthony talked about how important Isaac is to the team:
He’s probably the biggest difference maker on this team as a whole just because it’s not many dudes in the league like that who can guard 1-5, who have that high of a motor.
On the flip side, Isaac can hold his own offensively. He is not known as a perimeter scorer, but he is capable of knocking down three-point shots. Additionally, Isaac is a career 50.5% shooter from inside the three-point line.
At this point in his Magic tenure, Isaac is unlikely to be a long-term star for the team. Beyond his injury history, the Magic have an exciting forward duo in Franz Wagner and reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero. Even so, Isaac is a menace when he is healthy, and he is a solid contributor to the team off the bench. The Magic currently have a 32-26 record and own the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference. They are on the brink of their first playoff berth since the 2019-20 season. Having a guy like Isaac healthy and available will be a huge boost for the team.
The Last Word
Next season is Isaac’s final season under contract in Orlando. Additionally, it is non-guaranteed until January 2025. It will be interesting to see if this ends up being Isaac’s final season with the team that drafted him in 2017. For now, it is lucky for both sides that his injury will not keep him on the sidelines for an extended period of time.
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