Jonathan Isaac has looked like the best player for the Orlando Magic. He has done that despite inefficient scoring and the usual signs of future stardom.
Second-year players — especially if they were in a NBA rotation their rookie years — face a lot of pressure when it comes to Summer League. They are supposed to dominate. At least that is the expectation.
The mix of experience and a few months of offseason to improve their games is supposed to show a measurable leap. That first NBA offseason is supposed to be when players take their biggest leaps in their games. Just from experience alone.
So while many people will fawn over the arrival of a new batch of rookies donning NBA uniforms for the first time, it is actually the second-year players who tend to shine the most. They show the most tangible growth and are usually the best players on the court.
Yes, rookies have had some outstanding play throughout Summer League so far. That would include Mohamed Bamba. And this Summer League has had a surprising dearth of second-year players — only one top-five pick from last year is even playing in Las Vegas (De’Aaron Fox played in Sacramento). But the second-year players who are playing are putting in some of the best performances.
That includes Jonathan Isaac, despite some seemingly meager statistics.
No, Isaac is not getting accolades or getting named to anyone’s All-Summer League teams. He is averaging a relatively meager 14.3 points per game and on an inefficient and icy 35 percent shooting through three games. That is not exactly standing out or shining on the big stage.
Yet, Jonathan Tjarks of The Ringer is jumping on board the bandwagon and saying Isaac will be the one to “break the Orlando Magic’s curse.” It is hard not to watch Isaac’s Summer League play and not get excited by his versatility and defensive impact. Seeing him and Mohamed Bamba together on the floor has been the most breathtaking and exciting part of Summer League.
Isaac has made a clear positive impact despite his meager individual statistics. He has shown a wide-ranging versatility he hinted at in his short 27 games in his rookie year. The length and athleticism have been on full display.
Isaac has impressed even more because of his poor shooting and meager counting statistics. Because his impact is so clear.
"“That’s why I say the growth of his game is his overall confidence,” Magic Summer League coach Pat Delany said after Sunday’s win over the Memphis Grizzlies. “When shots aren’t going, you don’t see him with his head down, you don’t see him on the defensive end of the floor letting up. There are going to be nights when the ball is not going into the basket, what can you do to impact the game.”"
There have been several plays that have stood out with Isaac.
The first and obvious one was his block of Jaren Jackson Jr. to open the game against the Grizzlies. The scary potential of both Isaac and Bamba closing in on drivers and swatting their shot to oblivion has Magic fans salivating over the team’s possibilities.
The play drew a good quip from Isaac — he said Bamba had enough blocks. Of course, Bamba only got credit for one block in that game. Isaac had five. Isaac has eight blocks through three games including five in that win over Memphis.
But the more stunning defensive performance came in Monday’s loss to the Phoenix Suns. For a string of possessions, Isaac and his still slight 220-pound frame had to muscle up against top overall pick Deandre Ayton.
Here, it was clear Isaac’s work in the weight room has paid off. He held his ground, using his positioning and size to keep Ayton in front of him. He got a jump ball and a steal thanks to his quick hands.
This also echoes his play against Memphis when he held Jackson to 1-for-9 shooting. Isaac has followed that up with plenty of strong perimeter defense. Everything the team would expect after his stellar run on that end during the regular season — the Magic had their best on-court defensive rating with him on the floor.
On a basic sense, the Magic are giving up 69.0 points per game and a 40.7 percent effective field goal percentage and 35.3 percent overall field goal percentage. These are small sample sizes — just three games — and it is Summer League. The level of competition varies and these are not NBA teams.
But Isaac has stood out defensively. This is where the Magic expected him to contribute immediately — he did when healthy. And this is going to make him a central figure for the team heading into next season too.
Isaac is the ideal for the kind of defensive system the Magic want to run. He is athletic, long and versatile. He literally can defend every position on the floor. And he has confirmed that throughout this week in Las Vegas.
It is impressive Isaac has made all these positive impressions even with the national media without scoring consistently. That seems to be an afterthought in his game. The potential is clearly there for him and it has shown in flashes. But that will not be his role this coming year.
No doubt, Isaac’s offensive game has a long way to go. And the Magic have seemingly given Isaac the freedom to go against his nature and put up as many shots as he can this Summer League.
He has looked fairly comfortable dribbling and attacking, using it to set up a potentially devastating mid-range jumper that no wing should be able to block save for Kevin Durant or Giannis Antetokounmpo. It is hardly perfect as his shooting percentage would suggest. But this is all part of Isaac’s overall development.
"“I think my motor is getting better,” Isaac said after Sunday’s win. “I think I was getting shots I liked, they just weren’t falling for me. I just kept my head in the game and contributed in other ways.”"
That attitude has been the most encouraging part of this whole Summer League process.
Production is not necessarily the team’s goal. It is not necessarily Isaac’s goal. He still has a lot of work to do to improve his offensive game and to continue strengthening his body. That work will come in the next two months before training camp.
But Isaac’s attitude and willingness to try things out throughout Summer League remain impressive. He has displayed tremendous maturity in helping lead this team to a high seed in the upcoming Summer League tournament (starting tonight against the Utah Jazz).
The only thing anyone could ask more from Isaac is a little bit more offensive efficiency. Otherwise, he has dominated play for the Magic and set up their defensive identity.
That makes for a successful Summer League for him and a bright light into the team’s future.
Next: The G-League impact on the Orlando Magic's draft process
Preston Ellis of Orlando Pinstriped Post contributed to this report.