Jonathan Isaac: From High School Prospect to NBA Player
Barron G. Jonathan Judah Isaac, born on October 3, 1997, is an American professional basketball player currently playing for the Orlando Magic in the National Basketball Association (NBA). His journey to the NBA began in high school, continued through a single season of college basketball with the Florida State Seminoles, and eventually led him to become a highly-touted NBA prospect.
Early Years and High School Career
Jonathan Isaac's basketball journey commenced at Barron G. Collier High School in Naples, Florida, where he honed his skills during his freshman and sophomore years. Recognizing the need for further development and preparation for college and the NBA, Isaac transferred to the International School of Broward in Hollywood, Florida, for his junior and senior years.
In 2016, Isaac took a significant step by attending IMG Academy for a postgraduate year. At IMG Academy, potential isn’t just recognized-it’s cultivated. From elite facilities to college-style schedules and expert coaching, IMG Academy prepares student-athletes to thrive at the next level and beyond. This decision allowed him to reclassify as part of the high school class of 2016, providing an extra year to refine his abilities and mature physically.
During his senior year at IMG Academy, Isaac showcased his talent by averaging 17.6 points and 10.0 rebounds per game, leading the team to a 21-10 overall record. Reflecting on his high school career, Isaac experienced a remarkable six-inch growth spurt, transforming him from a combo guard to a versatile combo forward capable of playing both power forward and small forward positions.
Isaac's outstanding performance earned him recognition as one of the top players in his class, solidifying his status as a highly sought-after prospect. He was selected to participate in prestigious All-Star games, including the 2016 Jordan Brand Classic and the Nike Hoop Summit, further highlighting his potential.
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Consideration of Early NBA Entry
In February 2016, Jonathan Isaac explored the possibility of entering the NBA draft directly from high school, a path less traveled by American postgraduate players since 2005. However, after careful consideration, he decided to forgo this option and pursue a college basketball career.
College Career at Florida State
Before the 2016-17 season, Jonathan Isaac was already recognized as a player to watch for the Karl Malone Award.
Isaac's impact was immediately felt as he recorded his first double-double of the season on November 20, securing 14 points and 10 rebounds in a dominant 100-71 victory over Detroit. His stellar performances earned him the ACC Freshman of the Week award for the period of November 15-21, 2016.
On January 18, 2017, Isaac showcased his all-around game by recording 23 points, 10 rebounds, and a season-high 7 blocks in a win over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He continued his impressive scoring streak on February 8, 2017, with 21 points in a 95-71 victory against the NC State Wolfpack.
Throughout the season, Isaac emerged as a team leader alongside fellow prospects Dwayne Bacon and Xavier Rathan-Mayes, contributing to Florida State's rise as one of the top teams in the nation. As the second seed in the ACC tournament, Florida State defeated Virginia Tech in the quarterfinals but fell to Notre Dame in the semi-finals.
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The team then proceeded to the NCAA Tournament, where they were seeded 3rd in the West. They won their first-round game 86-80 against FGCU at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. However, they lost in the round of 32 in a blowout upset against 11th-seeded Xavier, 91-66. Isaac scored just 25 points in two games In his NCAA Tournament career.
At Florida State, Isaac showcased his versatility, averaging 12.0 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, and 1.2 steals across 26.2 minutes per game. He demonstrated his shooting ability by connecting on 50.8 percent of his field-goal attempts and 34.8 percent of his three-point attempts (on 89 attempts).
NBA Draft and Early Career with the Orlando Magic
On June 22, 2017, Jonathan Isaac's dream of playing in the NBA became a reality when the Orlando Magic selected him with the sixth overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft. After playing just 27 games as a rookie in 2017-18, Isaac appeared in just 34 contests in 2019-20 and will not play again until 2021-22 at the earliest. On December 28, he was ruled out with a right ankle sprain.
In his second year in the league, Isaac became a starter for the Magic in 64 games, posting career-high averages in points, rebounds, assists, and blocks per game. On March 15, 2022, Weltman announced that Isaac would miss the remainder of the 2021-22 NBA season due to the injury. On January 10, 2023, Isaac was assigned to the Magic's G League affiliate for just one game.
Isaac improved his per-game averages across every statistical category except steals as a sophomore in 2018-19. Perhaps more importantly, he established himself as a fixture in the starting lineup, showcasing his superb defensive acumen while improving offensively as well through 75 games and 64 starts.
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Injury Challenges and Return to the Court
Isaac continued to improve, scoring 24 points in a game against the Toronto Raptors in October 2019. However, he faced some tough injuries. In January 2020, he hurt his left knee and was expected to miss several weeks.
Then, in August 2020, during games played in the special "NBA Bubble," he tore a major ligament in his left knee (ACL) and also injured his meniscus. This was a very serious injury that required surgery. His recovery was long. In March 2022, it was announced he would miss the rest of the 2021-22 season as well.
On January 23, 2023, he returned to the court after over two and a half years, recording 10 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals in 9 minutes in a 113-98 win over the Boston Celtics. However, in February 2023, he suffered another injury, a torn muscle in his left leg, which required surgery and ended his 2022-23 season.
Isaac missed all of last season while recovering from a torn ACL and meniscus.
Strengths and Potential
Despite playing just 136 career games since being drafted sixth overall in 2017, Isaac has already established himself as one of the league's best defenders, averaging 2.1 blocks and 1.5 steals per 36 minutes for his career.
In his third season, Isaac enjoyed a career year. He averaged 11.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, 1.6 steals and 1.4 assists across 28.8 minutes - all career highs. His ability to contribute on both ends of the court made him a highly-valuable fantasy contributor in the early goings of the season, though a devastating knee injury sustained in January derailed the breakout campaign.
The question now is about the other side of the ball. Isaac made strides in 2019-20, as he averaged 11.9 points on 47/34/79 shooting -- the most efficient season of his career. He also averaged 6.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 28.8 minutes. The result, combined with his 2.9 combined blocks-plus-steals, was Isaac ranking a shocking 34th in per-game fantasy production in his 34 appearances.
Personal Life and Beliefs
Jonathan Isaac is one of six children born to Jackie Allen. He has one older sister, two older brothers, and two younger brothers. Jonathan also has family roots in Puerto Rico through his grandfather.
Isaac grew up as a Christian and went to church. However, he says he truly embraced his faith after he joined the NBA. Isaac also chose to stand during the national anthem while other players knelt. He explained that he believes in supporting all lives through his faith. Isaac has also spoken at events about his beliefs.
On May 17, 2022, Jonathan Isaac published his first book called Why I Stand.
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