Select summer for Isaac
Third-year forward Jonathan Isaac has been busy this offseason. In addition to his own workouts, Isaac popped in to show his support for the Magic’s Summer League team in Las Vegas in July, surprised some campers at the Magic Youth Academy Basketball Camp and put on his own camp for Orlando youth at the city’s Downtown Recreation Center.
Isaac’s offseason workout program also has paid off in terms of weight gain.
He’s gone from 209 pounds at the close of the season to 234 pounds.
Isaac was back in Las Vegas earlier this month as a member of the USA Basketball Select Team. The 13-man squad trained with USA Basketball’s national team as it prepares for the FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Magic coach Steve Clifford, along with general manager John Hammond and director of player development and quality control Becky Bonner, were in Las Vegas to watch Isaac and observe some of the training components of USA Basketball.
Clifford, to no surprise, came away impressed with what he saw from Isaac.
“I thought he played very well,” Clifford told the Sentinel. “I know Jeff Van Gundy enjoyed him, enjoyed coaching him. I think it reinforced to [Isaac] what great improvement he’s made in a year. He’s worked so hard [and] he’s had a great offseason.”
Isaac finished with 11 points, five rebounds and four steals in the USA White-versus-USA Blue scrimmage that capped the training camp. The USA Blue, comprised of the national team players, won 97-78.
NBA TV will re-run the USA Blue-versus-USA White game at 8 p.m. on Friday.