Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac’s nearly 900-day journey back to the hardwood will culminate in one final step on Wednesday, when he plays with the team’s G League affiliate: the Lakeland Magic.
It was reported last week that the 25-year-old was a “full go” in Orlando’s practice. Isaac’s last NBA contest in early August 2020 was the Magic’s second game back from the COVID-19 pandemic resumption in the “bubble,” when he tore his left ACL.
He played in 27 games (10 starts) as a rookie during the 2017-18 season and appeared in a career-high 75 games (64 starts) during the 2018-19 campaign. Isaac then played in 32 of Orlando’s first 34 contests in the 2019-20 season, before suffering a serious left knee injury in the team’s victory over the Washington Wizards on New Year’s Day 2020.
His torn left ACL came not only in the Magic’s second game in the bubble, but his second game back from his New Year’s Day injury. It was announced at the end of August 2020 that the former No. 6 overall pick would also miss the entire 2020-21 campaign.
Even with his pair of scary injuries, Orlando signed Isaac to a four-year, $80 million contract extension in December 2020.
As Isaac’s rehab slowed through much of the 2021-22 season, team president Jeff Weltman announced that the Florida State product would miss the entire season due to his knee injury. In March 2022, Isaac suffered a minor hamstring injury and underwent a procedure.
When Isaac returns to the court on Wednesday, it will have been 892 days since his last NBA contest.
