Orlando Magic Daily
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2018-19 Orlando Magic Player Evaluations: Jonathan Isaac

By Philip Rossman-Reich

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 20: Jonathan Isaac #1 of the Orlando Magic handles the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 20, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 20: Jonathan Isaac #1 of the Orlando Magic handles the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 20, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Jonathan Isaac, Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics
BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 22: Jonathan Isaac #1 of the Orlando Magic reacts in the fourth quarter of. Game against ethics’s Boston Celtics at TD Garden on October 22, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

Best Game of 2019

Oct. 22 at Celtics: 18 points, 12 rebounds, 8/12 FGs

Early in the season, no one had a real handle on who or what Jonathan Isaac could be quite yet. It was just nice to see him on the floor more than anything else. Any positive contribution he could make was a step in the right direction.

As this early season game against the Boston Celtics played out, Jonathan Isaac grew up in front of everyone’s eyes.

It started early with some of the shots he was able to make and the impact he was making on the glass. But the moments that stood out came late.

With Boston rallying to keep the game close and trying to steal the game back from Orlando, the team worked the ball to Isaac. He was still not a great 3-point shooter. But in one motion he pump faked to get his man off the floor, and calmly hit a mid-range jumper to ice the game for the Magic.

The calm and composure he showed in that moment was what you would expect from a veteran, not a player still essentially a rookie. It was an aggressive move too. A sign of what Isaac can one day be.

This game still stands as his career high in points and is one of three double-doubles Isaac had on the year. This was a preview of what he would become in pieces. [eds. note Isaac set a new career high with 20 points in the win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Feb. 12 and scored 19 in the win over the Miami Heat on March 26]

He displayed defensive dominance at various points of the season — his five-block game against the Atlanta Hawks was his coming out party in a lot of ways as it started the Orlando Magic’s push for the playoffs.

The team will want to see more games like his game against the Celtics. The poise and impact he made were good omens for who he hopes to become.