Magic news: Jonathan Isaac on those who think he returned too soon

Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac gave his take and answered back to those who think that it was a wrong decision for him to play in the Orlando bubble.

Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac gave his take and answered back to those who think that it was a wrong decision for him to play in the Orlando Bubble where he sustained a gruesome ACL injury. In his interview with The Athletic, Isaac was asked whether he came back too soon, and he said he has “no regrets.”

“In retrospect, no, I don’t think I came back too soon,” Isaac said. “I really was ready to go. I didn’t have any doubts about where I was in terms of moving or playing. I mean, you can watch from the clips of when I was playing — I was fine. I was in great shape outside of just my wind getting back. But I was in great shape. I think I was jumping my highest that I’ve done so far in my career. So I have no regrets about coming back or the timing that I did. I trusted the staff, and we came to a decision: ‘I’m ready to play.’ It was my decision at the end of the day, and I went with it. And I’m glad I did.”

For the former Florida State Seminole, the time he had inside the bubble with the Magic was bigger than basketball which he doesn't take for granted, especially in today's society:

“Hindsight is 20-20. If you tell me now do I think I should have played knowing that an ACL (injury would happen), I would maybe have a different opinion. But it wouldn’t be an automatic one. With being in the bubble, I got the opportunity to stand for my faith. I got the opportunity to speak. I got the opportunity to be around my teammates again. And I wouldn’t give that stuff back.”

On New Year’s Day, Isaac had a posterolateral corner injury to the same knee, to which he rehabbed the knee over the next six months. He finally returned to action and appeared in his team's final scrimmage and in its first seeding game where he performed well.

In his second regular-season game back, in the fourth quarter against the Sacramento Kings, he awkwardly fell and eventually suffered an ACL injury. His 2019-2020 campaign was the best statistical season of his career after averaging close to 11.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists through 34 games played for the Magic.

With the severity of his injury, it might take a while before Magic fans can get to see the third-year swingman return on the court. With the mindset that he has, it is undoubted that he will be back better than ever.