Markelle Fultz, Jonathan Isaac continue to check boxes on rehab

The way Markelle Fultz describes rehab, every day is about checking every box one by one.

Returning from a torn ACL suffered in a game last January has been a long process as that mystical 12-month milestone nears. If anyone knows the journey of coming back from a long-term injury, it is Fultz.

So dutifully, he does whatever the medical staff asks of him that day. He plays his part and puts in his work, keeping attuned to how his body is feeling and how he is reacting to each workout.

So far, so good. And so far, Fultz is seeing himself on the court a whole lot more.

Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac continue to check boxes in their recovery with Fultz taking a big step forward as the two return from ACL injuries.

Fultz has progressed in his recovery as he showed after shootaround before Friday’s game against the Chicago Bulls.

With everyone else filing out to get some rest before that game, Markelle Fultz stayed behind to play some controlled two-on-two with Ignas Brazdeikis and Moritz Wagner with E’Twaun Moore and Magic staffers joining in. He was also playing some one-on-one king-of-the-hill type drills with those players too.

In that process, Fultz was taking his bumps and playing with the same rhythm and beats that made him so promising. There he was spinning off a post-up for a layup or turning into a fadeaway jumper.

Fultz is not back yet. There is still work to do to build up his conditioning — not to mention get to 5-on-5 action. But these were the most concrete steps anyone has seen from him. He is indeed checking off those boxes.

"“I’m just trying to come in every day and work as hard as I can,” Fultz said after shootaround Friday. “I’m really enjoying it. I’m getting closer and closer to getting back on the court. Of course, my excitement is just very high. But I also want to be smart and listen to my body and listen to the medical staff. I’m very excited about where I’m at and where I’m going.”"

Fultz said he has been feeling good and has not experienced any pain or setbacks in his recovery. He has just been about coming in and doing his work for whatever is assigned to him and taking each step in the process.

The next step is to begin this on-court physical work and begin testing everything he wants to do on the court in the course of the game.

Part of that next step has had Fultz head to Lakeland to work out and practice with the Magic’s G-League affiliate.

Fultz will be working with them since they will have more opportunities for practices and live-action work than the Magic will in the midst of their season — the Orlando Magic are getting set to head out on a West Coast road trip next weekend and do not play consecutive home games again until they return Dec. 15 and Dec. 17.

While Fultz is taking advantage of that resource. Jeff Weltman said Jonathan Isaac, also out with a torn ACL suffered in the bubble in August 2020,  is not at that stage of his recovery yet. But he said he continues to make steady progress.

"“The way that we manage our injuries has to be done for the benefit of our players,” Weltman said after the team’s shootaround Friday. “They are showing up every day and doing their work. They have to know the timetables are going to be in accordance with the results of their work. No injuries are the same, no two bodies are the same. They have had their occasional check-up with doctors and their imaging. They are both moving forward and both doing great.”"

Indeed, the Magic have made their long-term rehabilitation and integration cornerstones of the team’s goals this season.

That has put some added attention on Isaac, who has not been a long-term participant since his initial knee injury on Jan. 1, 2020 (nearly two years ago). There is certainly some caution to make sure Isaac gets fully integrated with the team and does not have another injury that keeps him out even longer.

Weltman said the team has tried to make sure his body is balanced and strengthened everywhere. He said Isaac’s body is starting to fill out and his shot has improved. Isaac noted before the season that there were no setbacks in his recovery.

For him, as it has been for Fultz, it has been about getting in the gym and doing the work.

"“They’ve been amazing,” Weltman said after shootaround Friday. “They are two remarkable young men. Their ability to continue the daily grind with the greater goal in mind has really been impressive for guys so young.“I hope that part of the way that we manage their rehabilitation is understood by the fans is that a big part of this is the mental aspect of this. This is a long, long grind for these guys. Being able to show up every day. That’s why it’s not fair to them or healthy to put constant timelines on it. Because this is a long process. they have to know their work is paying dividends.”"

For the two teammates, part of that has been leaning on each other some. Fultz said he and Isaac have pushed each other through their rehab processes. Even as they seem to be going at different paces and have different concerns as they prepare to get back on the court.

Still, it is hard not to see the finish line up ahead.

Both players are checking those boxes and taking those steps toward returning to the court. They are both trying to stay in touch with the team and prepare for when they get back on the floor.

For Fultz, that is managing a team under a new coach. There is a lot to learn and add to the team. Markelle Fultz said he is speaking with coach Jamahl Mosley about what they see on the court and sharing where he can help.

That carrot of a return is definitely there in front of him. There is a clear eagerness to get back on the court and help the team win.

"“I don’t even think most of these guys understand how easy it’s going to be for them when I come back just with my playmaking ability and way to control the pace and everything like that,” Fultz said after Friday’s shootaround. “But also the way they space the floor and move is going to help me out a lot. I definitely see where I can help a lot of these guys, but not only these guys but myself. I’m super excited for when I come back.”"

There are still more boxes to check before he gets there.

As he went through those drills after shootaround Friday, Fultz was getting visibly tired. His game lost some of its bounce. Certainly rebuilding conditioning after getting the clearance to play is a process unto itself.

He will still need time to get back fully.

But sooner than later, those boxes will get checked. And both Fultz and Isaac will find themselves back on the court.