2020 Orlando Magic Player Outlook: Jonathan Isaac

Getting a full season under his belt helped Jonathan Isaac prove he belongs in the league and as a key player for the Orlando Magic. Now, he has to focus on his health and building off of his progress.

It was one of those moments you love as a fan of any team.

You have lived through the ugly divorce with the All-Star. You have watched your team reach the deep, moribund depths of NBA purgatory. Sure, the team had flashed here and there in 2019 but the fans wanted something else.

The spark. The “WOW” plays. And not just about the plays — the freak plays coupled with the team moving forward. With wins.

Before their game against the Atlanta Hawks on Feb. 10, 2019, the Orlando Magic were 25-32 and 10th in the Eastern Conference standings, 2.5 games back from the eighth spot. Not bad for a team with such a depressing recent history but it still felt like an uphill battle, even with their then-recent success.

Then, Jonathan Isaac saw John Collins trying to score in the paint.

At that point, it was a weird second season for the sophomore pro. He followed up an injury-plagued rookie year by getting hurt in game eight. It seemed to take a large chunk of time just for him to fully get his legs back.

The Hawks learned the hard way: my oh my, did Jonathan Isaac have his legs back.

In a span of seconds, Isaac blocked three shot attempts around the rim. Isaac’s instincts, tenacity and resolve are on full display in a single sequence.

Magic fans received one of those precious magic moments, courtesy of Jonathan Isaac.

From there, we know the story: the Orlando Magic closed the season on a tear, made the Playoffs, and lost to the eventual champion Toronto Raptors in the first round.

Isaac’s season mirrored that of his own team, creating something of a chicken-or-the-egg scenario. He went on a tear of his own to close the campaign, becoming a legitimate three-point threat and growing in his role as a disruptive defensive force.