ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac will make his return to the court with their G League team in Lakeland on Wednesday night, the team confirmed.
The team had assigned him to Lakeland on Tuesday, an indication he would return to professional basketball action after more than two years.
Bally Sports Sun will air the game against the Westchester Knicks live at 7 p.m. from RP Funding Center in Lakeland.
In a Twitter post Tuesday, the Magic announced Isaac's assignment to Lakeland, along with information about the G League game.
Jonathan Isaac has been assigned to the @LakelandMagic of the @nbagleague.
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) January 10, 2023
Lakeland hosts Westchester on Wednesday, January 11 at RP Funding Center. pic.twitter.com/V0Dj7sAO66
The Magic often assign players to Lakeland when they are preparing to play after missing extended time to injury. Earlier this season, guard R.J. Hampton even requested to be assigned to Lakeland for some games when he was out of Orlando’s rotation and wanted to continue to play.
Isaac has not played for the Magic since injuring his left knee in August 2020 in a game against the Sacramento Kings while the NBA was playing at Disney’s Wide World of Sports during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since he was injured, he has rehabbed in Orlando and has worked out with players in both Lakeland and Orlando to try to get back to NBA action.
Isaac was drafted by Orlando No. 6 overall in the 2017 NBA draft and was developing into one of the league’s best defensive players before his injury. He has played in 136 career games — starting 106 — and averaged 9.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.