Jonathan Isaac finally back, 904 days later

Moment of emotion to come in Orlando, since Jonathan Isaac will repress an NBA floor tonight, for the first time in two and a half years. Perhaps the end of a long history of injuries and relapses.

“A ghost in Florida”. Jonathan Isaac will finally play in the NBA again. The winger will return to the Magic rotation tonight at 1 a.m. against the Celtics, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. The 25-year-old hasn’t played since Orlando’s health bubble… August 2, 2020, or 904 days. An eternity.

After missing over two NBA seasons, Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac is expected to make his return and season debut on Monday vs. Boston, source tells @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 22, 2023

Drafted in 2017, Isaac experienced one of the most violent setbacks in history: victim of a cruciate ligament rupture in January 2020 and victim of a relapse the following summer, JI therefore comes out of two and a half seasons without playing. He had returned to competition recently in the G League, in the Orlando affiliated franchise, and had shown reassuring signs. In three minor league games, he averaged 15.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks, all at 41% shooting success.

Before the catastrophy, the sixth pick of the 2017 Draft was considered the great prospect of the Magic, around which the franchise wanted to build. Capable of bringing impact and energy offensively but especially defensively, Judah was even a potential DPOY, as he grew in power over the years. In his last year in the NBA, his career best, in 2019-20, Isaac was averaging 11.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 2.3 blocks, 47% on shots.

Even if many things have changed today in Orlando, the franchise having taken a new direction with Paolo Banchero at its head, Jonathan Isaac obviously remains welcome in Florida and will therefore try to relaunch his career as a professional basketball player tonight. At 25, the freak finally seems to see the end of the tunnel, and after three convincing G League games, he will try to continue down this path in the Big League and become the monster he was three years ago.

Source texte : Shams Charania, Basketball Reference