Orlando Magic head coach Steve Clifford believes forward Jonathan Isaac is primed for a big 2019-20 season.
Isaac, who was part of the Team USA Select Team which trained with USA Basketball’s National Team, has gone from 209 pounds at the close of the 2018-19 season to 234 pounds this summer.
Clifford watched Isaac played with the Team USA Select Team and came away very impressed with the Magic youngster.
“I thought he played very well. I know Jeff Van Gundy enjoyed him, enjoyed coaching him,” Clifford told Roy Parry of the Orlando Sentinel. “I think it reinforced to him what great improvement he’s made in a year. He’s worked so hard, [and] he’s had a great offseason.”
Last season for the Magic, Jonathan Isaac played in 75 games. He averaged 9.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists while shooting 42.9 percent from the field, 32.3 percent from beyond the arc and 81.5 percent from the free-throw line.
The Magic have a really deep frontcourt. All-Star Nikola Vucevic is the headliner, while Aaron Gordon, Mo Bamba and Isaac are the three up-and-coming players who are looking to help the Magic make another playoff run next season.
Orlando made the postseason in 2018-19 for the first time since 2012. While they lost to the Toronto Raptors in five games, it was still a successful season for the Magic, as the guys on the team got a taste of what it's like to compete at the highest level.
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