April 19, 2024 • 31 mins
Jonathan Isaac joins Dante, George and David to discuss his journey to this point, what the Cavs series will come down to, Paolo and Franz's mentality and what Coach Mosley has meant to him and this team.
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
We've got a good one for you Magic fans. The
latest installment over Orlando Magic Pod Squad, and it features
the Minister of Defense, Jonathan Isaac stops by the Pond
and Magic Fans. Remember the Florida Department of Transportation reminds
you that fans don't let fans drive drug If you've
been drinking, don't get behind the wheel. Instead, find a
sober driver or catch a ride service. Remember, drive sober
(00:25):
or get pulled over. Have a great night, and drive safe.
All we get into everything with Jonathan Isaac are this
edition of Magic Pod Squad. What are his emotions as
he is ready to take on a playoff game for
the first time in five seasons. He breaks that all
down and the journey, the long arduous road that he
has taken to be healthy and to be back and
(00:46):
ready to go into the postseason for the Orlando Magic.
His thoughts on Pallo, ban Caro and Franz Wagner, what
they might see here in the postseason, and what it's
going to take for the Orlando Magic to come away
victorious against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Some good stuff. We have
a lot of fun when Jonathan Isaac this edition of
Magic Pod Squad. This is Fawns of long Enough. They're
Orlando Magic. This is cole An, mister Jenning Suggs.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
This is Paulo man Carroll the Orlando Magic and you're
listening to the Pod Squad.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
And welcome everyone to another edition of Orlando Magic Pod Squad.
Dante Marcatelli, George Golante, David Steele, and we are very
excited to be joined by the Minister of Defense Jonathan
Isaac joining us here as we gear up for Game
one of the NBA postseason coming away. At the time
of this recording, the game will be two days away.
This is on Thursday, and I know everybody's excited. I
(01:34):
got my everybody insured on, right, You guys don't have yours,
but I get mine on. I'm all in on the
new slogos. That's nice of no shirt, right, all right,
I get I know a guy.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
I'll hook you guys, all right.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
But as we as we get ready for this Game
one coming on Saturday, JAYI thanks so much for joining us.
We're excited to catch up with you. I gotta think
this is probably the most days you've had off in
a year. How has it been the last week here
to kind of have a little time off to gear
up for this postseason. Gave Yeah, yeah, thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
It's been great, honestly, the psych the calm before the storm.
We get a chance to get into the gym rest
a little bit and then kind of fine tune and
figure out what we're doing strategy and everything like that,
and got a chance to run up it down a
little bit today, So it's all all good.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
It was thinking about this, Yeah, sorry, real quick, driver,
I was thinking about this. You know, you're you're one
of four guys that has ever experienced a postseason, right,
there's four. There's eighteen guys on the roster. You're one
of the four that's been there. You were there, and
you know you got to go back to twenty nineteen. Uh,
what do you what do you remember about your first
trip to the postseason and what do you how are
(02:42):
you attacking it differently this go around?
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Yeah, I just remember it being just super intense. There
there was that that that lure of like mystery of
not knowing what to expect, that that that definitely heightened,
like the emotions of it, the mental of it all.
And then once you get into the game, you start
to understand, like, you know, what everybody was saying was
true and some things weren't true, and you just you
(03:07):
just have to play. But the attention to detail, the
the energy level, the you know, every guy on on
the roster, everybody to touch the floor is willing or
should be or really is willing to do whatever it
takes to win the game on both sides of the floor.
And it truly does come down to who's more equipped,
who's making shots, who's able to execute, and who's able
(03:27):
to minimize, you know, game plan mistakes that they're trying
to take away.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
So along those lines, have the guys been leaning on
you and and Joe and Gary a little bit because
they're like, again, like Dante said, you guys are the
only ones that have been through this in any capacity
on this roster.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
I mean we've been vocal, but I feel like, you know,
the the more that you go into it in terms
of like, oh my gosh, you guys don't know what
you're going to expect, be so tough, But what coaches
done jab of is just hey, it's it's basketball. Yes,
we're taking this to another level in terms of our detailing.
You know, we control our own energy and when I think,
(04:05):
you know, when we when we've been right, we've been
amazing when it comes to energy level, locking in, defensive strategy,
all the things like that. So I don't have a
concern there. But what I love is courches like it's
basketball like, allow, everything's going to be crazy, But if
we can stay tight, stay in, not allow any distractions
and just and just stay focused, really is will be
(04:25):
just fine. So if anybody's asking me on telling them
the same things, it's it's going to be different. But
it's definitely something that you can handle. And I don't
want to I don't want to hype it up too
much to where you know, you get in your own way.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
You know. Jonathan George just alluded to it. The Magic
don't have a lot of players with playoff experience. I
think Joe's played in fifty games, maybe six for the season,
Judo and Markel, Garry, Harris Cleveland, a lot of guys
that have been through a lot of the playoffs. And
I think there's a perception around the league that the
Magic don't have the experience of the postseason to make
(04:58):
a serious run this year. How would you answer.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
That, Well, I mean if if, if what you're going
off of is experience, then you know, then you have
a point. You know, it is what it is. But
I think that we have done an amazing job at
accepting the challenge, you know, when we've needed to. You you,
you go on the three game road trip losing streak,
and then come home and have to do a do
(05:22):
or die game in minds against Milwaukee, a team that
blew you out, you know, a few games beforehand. We
treated that like a Game seven in a playoff series,
and we responded and handled our business throughout the entirety
of the game. And so I'm not looking at it
from that standpoint of, you know what, we don't have
them looking at it from our strengths. What we are
is the individuals are collective superpower, which is defense and
(05:45):
our size and our versatility. And I don't think that
there's a team that that matches up against us well, uh,
you know, for a series. And so that's how I feel.
I think that's how we feel, and we'll just see
how it unfolds.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
Coach Bosley the other day said, and fran they're mature
beyond their years. You're in that locker, would you agree?
Speaker 1 (06:04):
With that absolutely.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
I think it's obvious, you know, to probably to be
in the position that he's in as the second year guy,
Franz to be a third year guy and too, and
to lead a team, you know, into the postseason. And
the way that they have is it's been remarkable. You know,
I think they're both I've seen some stat they're both
you know, amongst Lebron or somebody else in some type
of category. You know, that sets them apart from a
(06:27):
lot of other guys. So you know, respect to them
and and and you know how they've been able to
handle everything and been able to handle the ups and
downs of the season because everybody, you know, fran has
been on a streak of not playing too great, and
he's found a way to get back piece head up
and down throughout the season. And they they both responded
when it's necessary. So I'm expecting them to carry on
(06:48):
that trend into the postseason.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
Now that you get the year the regular season in
the books, take us back to training camp, take us
back to kind of how you were feeling and how
you were looking at the start of the camp to
where you are. I mean, it's got to feel like
it's got to feel like it was a couple of
years ago. How long ago? Training camp seems like forever ago.
But just take us through this season, that you just
had fifty eight games sixteen minutes a night, and where
(07:12):
you thought you were and how you are now.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Yeah, I don't even remember training camp, right, I don't
believe it. Yeah, I mean, you know, going into the season,
there was a lot of what ifs surrounding me and
even in my own mind about you know, am I
going to be able to stay healthy? You know, where
am I going to be at in the rotation? Am
I ever going to get off of minutes restriction? That
was all there throughout the entirety of the season, And
(07:35):
it's just it's been amazing to just watch it, watch
it unfold, the ups and downs of the season up,
you know, trying to find my shot, trying to find
where I fit in, trying to find all these different
things going through the conditioning, and then just the body
aches and the soreness of playing a lot of minutes
and back to backs, that stuff we've been trying to
figure out. So it's just been it's just been I
(07:56):
would I would say there's been a lot of grace
you know, extended from the coaching staff to the team,
to me, that my teammates to me and seeing me
in one day out one day, you know, it's sticking
with me. And then now we get to the point
where we're shaping up and you know, you know, about
a grace of God him, I'm able to play, you know,
extended minutes and you know, for my sake and you know,
(08:18):
be a contributing back to the team.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Jay I take I don't want you to go back
to training camp. I want you to go back to
Game eighty two where we were coming off the losing streak.
We are heading into that game and coach Moseley obviously
pulls you into the office and says, hey, you're starting
tonight for us against the Bucks. What what? What went
into that conversation? How did you feel? And obviously the
(08:43):
whole culmination of maybe you being in and out the
way you were all season was to get to April
and Game eighty two and the playoffs and here we are.
So what was that like when when mose called you
in and said, hey, listen, ja I we're going with you.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Let's go.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Yeah, it was it was a lot, honestly, like, you know,
I found out the day before. You know, we were
with the team when Dale had injured his back, and
you know, he was working through that and we're in
the meeting and coach says you have to start, and
so it was it was a lot of emotions like one, now,
you know, I'm excited. I'm ready to accept the challenge.
There's the okay, you know, I haven't played that much
(09:20):
at the five with this specific group. You know, I
started coming in, you know, towards the end of the
middle of the first quarter and getting some running with them,
but there hasn't been a ton of time for me
to understand where I'm going with what things are doing,
and so you know, it was kind of quick, and
you know, for me, it's just about you know, accepting
the challenge, trying my best to play as hard as
I possibly can and to be a help to my teammates.
(09:42):
And I'm glad that the Milwaukee game went the way
that it went.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
You know, Jay I, I'd like to maybe take a
wide view of your journey. You know, where you've come from.
You came as the number six pick at twenty seventeen,
You had an injury riddle, rookie year. You got a
great second year in the league, helped the team get
to the NBA playoffs. Then I guess January first of
(10:06):
twenty twenty, first knee injury. Then you come back in
the bubble, You stand for your faith in the bubble.
You injure your knee again in August of twenty twenty.
You're out for two and a half years trying to
get back on the court. You finally get back last January.
You have another injury about a month end of that season,
(10:26):
and you bounce back once again. And here you are,
having played fifty eight games or one of the top
defensive players in the NBA. I just wonder what goes
through your mind? What have you learned, what has this experienced,
this journey, what does it meant to you?
Speaker 2 (10:42):
You know, I was literally earlier today just in my car,
just reflecting on everything that you just said about the
entirety of the journey. Now, I feel like you know
a lot of people who don't know. Obviously, you don't
know the behind the scenes or what goes in into
the day to day of going through that process. Talked
about the injury. You're coming back from one injury, you
(11:02):
injure something else while you're while you're coming back from
that injury, you injer something else. It has been it's
been nothing short of just of just difficult. You know that,
the mental battle of trying to stay locked in the
the monotony of you know, day in and day out,
of doing the same things over and over again, seeing
the same people, working with the same people over and over.
(11:23):
And I was in my car and I was just saying, God,
I'm grateful to you for your faithfulness, and I'm seeing
the I'm seeing the reality in my life of what
what God can do and in the the truth of
His word. Because you know a lot of people trusting
a whole bunch of different things. You know, you you
you put your trust in this for that and for
(11:44):
for me. Throughout this entirety of this process. I have
tried my best. It hasn't been perfect, not even close,
but I have tried my best to put my faith
in Christ and say, I don't know where I'm going,
I don't know how I'm gonna get there. I can't
see the finish line. I had setback after setback, but
I'm trusting You to get me to where you want
me to be, and I'm gonna try my best to
(12:04):
honor you throughout the process in the midst of my
ups and downs. You know, I have amazing people around me,
my wife that has stuck with me throughout the entirety
of the process, my family, my church family, my pastor,
and and now I get to the place where, you know,
I'm starting gay eighty two of the season and and
well we'll see what happens, you know, during the post
and where we go with that. But just it has
(12:26):
been it's been nothing short of just to me, just
a miracle, low key, and I don't I don't know
who who is took off nine hundred and four days
from you know, basketball with injuries and come back and
all right has has done what I've done. And you know, honestly,
no glory to myself. I just I'm grateful and I
just want to just continue to trust him and move forward.
And if he could do this, what else can he do?
(12:46):
And and you know, who knows what will end up
in the postseason and what we'll do, but I'm believing
for the best and the biggest thing that we could
possibly do, which just win it all. And so uh
that that that's that's been it.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
It's an amazing outlook. And I, you know, I think
about you've got such following and you've got so many people,
uh you know. I I see the messages and the
positive messages that you'll put out there sometimes and it's
got such a great response and reception. But every day
isn't easy. Every day isn't easy. So what would you say?
So many people are going through something right now, and
what is your message to them when things get hard
(13:17):
as it did for you? What do you what do
you tell people? What's your motivation for them? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (13:22):
I think I think there's twofold I think, you know,
there's there's the there's the people who are who are
outside of Christ that are going through difficulty in their lives.
They're trying to figure out who they are and what
they're doing. My advice to them would be to to
to turn to Christ. That the the fulfillment of my
life has been so much, you know, so grand outside
of basketball and my like literally used to be just basketball.
(13:44):
It was video games and basketball. And now to see
how I've grown as an individual as a man, as
you know, to auband to a father, it's been because
of my faith in Christ and allowing Him to lead
my life. And so there's that point if you're in
a place where you don't know who you are, you
don't and then you don't know where you're going, turn
to Christ and then the people that are in Christ,
I would say to remain faithful. And you know, one
(14:07):
of the things that I put on Instagram today was that,
you know, negative circumstances are a test of faithfulness. And
I wanted to get to a place in my life
where my faith in Christ, obedience to him, my my my,
my faithfulness to Him wasn't predicated on everything going the
way I wanted it to go. And I have seen
that the more that I have just stuck with it,
remained faithful, God has been faithful to me. And so
(14:30):
that there will be the two things I said also.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
Well said very good, Jay.
Speaker 4 (14:34):
I I know you know, as a Christian, part of
what is all you're all about is to be a servant.
That's kind of the attitude that that that you have.
And I've noticed that Jamal Mosley has pretty much is
a similar type of point of view. I mean, he's
a guy that really wants to make everybody better. He's
(14:56):
got a servant attitude as well. Does that permeate the
locker room? Is that part of what the magic is
all about because of maybe the coach is attitude, your attitude?
Speaker 2 (15:06):
Yeah, I really think so. I think throughout the entirety
of the season, coach has harped on, you know, by
committee and doing things together and as a team. We've
done things outside of the court on the court together,
but that this this idea that everybody can contribute, and
at different points in the season we've needed other guys
to contribute and to and to step up and to
(15:26):
make shots and then to make plays from guys that
you wouldn't expect or from the guys that aren't usually
doing it all the time. And so I think this
season has been a by any season where we bind ourselves,
you know, in the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference,
ready to you know, take on the playoff series. It
hasn't all been on one player, you know, tons of
guys that have contributed to get us to where we
(15:47):
are right now.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
But does that make it a little more satisfying Ji
that it's been that way, that that that you can
look at it as a as a group effort. That
I mean one to fifteen. Everybody has had a moment
at some point during this during this journey to the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
Yeah, it makes it fun. You you feel like you're
a part of something bigger than yourself, and you know
everybody's bought into that, and it really it has been
a truly enjoyable time. We really like each other. It's
not really fake, like we really do enjoy being around
each other. And I think that that's healthy and and
and good. As you're getting ready to go into battle,
there there's gonna be teams that that fragment, you know,
(16:23):
as soon as something goes wrong. But I think that
we've we've we've been through enough tests to be able
to come together and regroup no matter what happens.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
Has there a matter for you, like, has there been
a high a highlight just for you for the season,
or or a couple of moments, uh that stand out,
something that really stands out to you.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
There's a few games, you know, There's one game that
I didn't play, and it was Denver up in Denver, uh,
where I'm watching from the sideline. I'm watching a team
find their belief throughout the game and and just claw
their way back into a into a win. I thought
that was really cool. I think a big one was
(17:02):
probably this Milwaukee game, this past one. Just do or die?
You know who are we as as a group? Are
we a team that's gonna you know, we got hit?
You know we got hit early. I think they got
off to an early league and we were able to
bunker down and show who we are as a basketball team.
Lock in defensively, shot started the fall. I think the
couple of game season that have solidified our identity, and
(17:23):
those are two of them.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
You got to play in the NBA. You gotta play
sixty five games to be eligible for the postseason awards.
You you would be on an all defensive team. I
mean it just changed this year. You would be on
one of the all defensive teams. There's no question about.
We've seen you long enough to know you are our
best defensive player and probably the best offensive player in
the league. What is your mentality as you go into
(17:47):
this playoff series knowing what you bring defensively?
Speaker 2 (17:50):
Yeah, I mean, honestly, it's not even I don't even
know the right way to say, like I'm not going
to the game, like I'm going to do this, or
I'm gonna show this guy down. I just try to
play as hard as I can play, and a lot
of times I find myself in the right place at
the right time. I'm trying to make my matchup as
difficult as as I possibly can unneath the person that
(18:12):
I'm guarding. And you know that that that gets box
and steals and being in the right place in altering shots,
and a lot of times when I'm out there, I'm
just kind of lost in effort and trying to to
play really hard and it turns into you know, great
defensive plays, and so you know, I'm not necessarily I
believe I'm the best defensive player in the NBA. You know,
that's a trip that I wear. You know, it'll add
(18:35):
fuel to the buyer of not being able to because
of the rule. I get it, you know, I think
the rule is is for it, but you know it'll
just drive me to to to try my best to
be a defensive minister.
Speaker 4 (18:45):
In this this series, watching you play defense is really fun.
I mean, we really really enjoy it. And you know,
there are times when you come into the game if
the team is a little sluggish, when you're not starting,
we'll see what happens on Saturday. But now a lot
of times you'll provide that spark, but there are other
times it seems from the crowd kind of generates. When
(19:07):
you make a good play, then the crowd goes crazy,
and then it just seems to snowball. What about the
effect of that and having adjailent Suggs, Franz Foger who
are also elite defenders alongside of you.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
Yeah, no, we We've had you know, I say it
all the time. We've had games where I wasn't and
we put on defensive master classes. So I'm definitely not
the only you know, defensive minded guy on the team.
You know, Jalen Suggs is is different. What been able
to do to you know, premier guards throughout the league,
throughout this entire season, and Book is an absolutely slept
on defender. He continued to get as as as a
(19:42):
young guy defending, rebounding. You got mowed down there, you
got Gwyndale down there. We've got g Harris who's picking
up Book. Coort Ab was in a full court. Cole
has continued to get better.
Speaker 4 (19:54):
And so Pallo getting better too. Pallow's getting there.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
We've continued to grow in that city, and uh, I
think with the fan base too, is like I think
they're on the same process as us, Like they've like
they're finding their blue here and there and and we'll
have sister and they'll go auto.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
I don't know, like do do we really believe?
Speaker 2 (20:12):
And and we'll come back out due and oh my gosh,
can you guys do this all the time? Like a
flow of finding our identity and our footing and get
into the postseason. This season has been huge for us
and going into the next season and who knows what's
gonna happen. I think that this season has solidified that
we're a team worth looking at and and we're going
to continue to push this further.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
I think I asked you this the other day. Job there,
But is there any chance that Jalen and Mo Wagner's
heads might literally explode during the post.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
Season to be a month definite the game one, whether
it's a good thing that happens or yes, happened, you know,
we we're definitely gonna see some emotion. You know, we
can go into the game talking about, uh, you know,
let's let's stay focused all we want, you know, it's
it's a part of who we are with those guys.
(21:00):
You know, they're they're emotional guys, and they wear it
on their sleeves and it's a part of who they
are and it's a part of what makes them so good.
And obviously there's times where you've got to pull it
back and and and get into it with the reps
and all that stuff, but they wouldn't be who they
are without.
Speaker 3 (21:13):
It, Jay, I, what what is the sense you feel
in the community about this team? I mean, you've been
here the long here the longest tenured member of the Magic,
You've seen it all at this point. What what what
do you what's your sense of of the fans and
everything in the community when when you're out and about.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
Yeah, I think it's just growing and and and it
should be. It should be with the way that this
team is trended. And but where we've come from, you know,
the lulls of the Magic seasons and and it's it's
it's been you know, it's been amazing to watch the
rise of us. I remember they had me speak into
a the season ticket holders reps or the meeting or whatever,
(21:53):
and I said, I said, for them to be telling
the season ticket holders who're going to be buying. I said,
you know, you don't want to get into late like
at the time is now to kind of punch that
ticket because we're gonna go, We're gonna rise, and there's
still so much room for us to grow. We're definitely
not there yet. But I think coach Mode and the
front office has figured out a winning identity and how
(22:16):
they can plug players in plut players out. Who knows
that they'll continue to move forward and the magic will
be successful.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
They should have given you commission out of that meeting.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
Seriously, I hope that's off.
Speaker 3 (22:26):
Get them on the sales staff.
Speaker 1 (22:29):
What what are things that Polo and Frands don't know?
Speaker 5 (22:31):
What?
Speaker 1 (22:31):
What do they not know that they're about to experience.
They're obviously they're gonna a lot of attention is going
to be on them on the offensive end. What are
some of the things that they're about to experience and
what makes them so unique and talented that they'll be
able to handle it?
Speaker 2 (22:45):
Yeah, I think what they're going to experience is the
level of detail that the other team is going into
specifically focused on them. So it's not just about this
is the this is what we're gonna do against them.
They're what they're looking at, tendencies they're looking at when
Polo's going right, this is what he's doing. Whole police
boy's let this what he's doing. When he turns his back,
this is doing. And they're going to try their best
(23:05):
to hedge that as much as possible to you know,
for there to better themselves. And so I'm sure that
early in the game, as the game goes on, they're
gonna pick up on Oh wow, I haven't seen this
yet this year, this defense, the way that they're guarding.
You know, they may switch, they may double, they may
do all these different things, and they've seen a bunch
of that this year. But there's definitely gonna be new
(23:25):
things that you know, other teams haven't done, just with
the level of I'm sure film that they're watching and
anything like that. But they they've adjusted, Like, like to
think about, for for Powow to be in the position
that he's in and to have teams so heavily focused
on him, so heavily focused on Franz, they have still produced,
you know, at a high level, you know, for us
to be in the position that we're in right now,
(23:47):
so I have you know, no doubt that they're going
to be able to adjust and figure out how to
how to put the ball in the basket, how to
get other guys involved. And it made some time during
the first game, but they'll get to it. They're both
lead you know, high high i Q players and highly
motivated players, and they're not gonna lay down. They're gonna
want to figure it out and get going.
Speaker 4 (24:09):
Speaking of high i Q players, Joe Ingles has been
has been face timing apparently Donovan Mitchell. Ye. A couple
of days those guys were teammates in Utah. Donavan Mitchell
said today he said, I'm tired, you know, I hope,
I hope I've only got one more face time with Joe.
But what do you think that looks like? What does
a what does that look like? Joe Ingles and Donovan
(24:30):
Mitchell face.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
Timing, Well, it's definitely just Joe Ingles talking crap the
entire time, just trying. I don't know, it's just just
telling Donovan we're gonna beat him, and telling Joe's probably
giving away all our serious Honestly, those are He's he
he's gonna talk, he's gonna talking, and uh, you know
(24:52):
I'm sure they have a great relationship. So they're going
back and forth and then they're they're talking trash and everything,
so that that's that's cool, that's great.
Speaker 1 (25:02):
Is there gonna be a part on Saturday where you
where you stop for a second, look around and be
able and just get extra amped up and think, this
is what we do this for. This is why it
works so hard. We're here and it's the playoffs. Say
you can't only do it for a second because you
got a game to play. But do you think it'll
do You think it'll sink in and hit you and
give you a little extra juice at some point on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (25:22):
Yeah, just with the start of the game. I'm I'm
I'm gonna that other the game, I'm gonna look around,
you know, I prayed during the anthem, and I'm just gonna,
you know, thank God and and and recognize the stage
that he's set and just you know, play to honor him,
and so just go out there and give my best,
but definitely take in and soak in the moment.
Speaker 1 (25:40):
Well, tell us about the series, give it, give us
your outlook, and what's it gonna take for for the
magic to to come out?
Speaker 2 (25:46):
Of this here first round against Cleveland. Yeah, I think
we're just gonna have to to be our sales. We're
going to have to out physical them. We're gonna have
to our Our defense is gonna have to be elite.
You know. They they've got elite guard, they got bigs.
We can around the basket. They've got you know, really
good shooting as well. They stayed in their wings. They
shoot the ball really really well, and the losses they don't.
(26:06):
And so we're gonna have to take a three point
line and force them to play inside the two and
force Donovan and and and uh Darius to make tough
twos all night. We're gonna have to box out and
rend then and I think that we can do that.
I think we've proven that we can take teams off
the three proNT line, we can force them in the
tough twos and we can rebound it. And then on
the offensive end, we've got to continue to let the
ball move. And you know, our guys gonna have to
(26:27):
play well. Apolo Franz, I'm gonna have to make some shots.
Everybody's gonna have to make shots. You here is gonna
have to get going. Cole Is gonna have to come
into the game and affect the game in a positive
way offensively, and you know, we'll figure it out from there.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
I like it. We've all seen it, Jonathan, but you
got to see it now. It's fun for us to
watch through you. What kind of perspective has it given you?
Be a dad? There's nothing better?
Speaker 2 (26:50):
Is there?
Speaker 5 (26:52):
No?
Speaker 2 (26:52):
Man? I it's it really is hard to find the words.
Like she she's getting to that point now where like
I can call her from another room and come over.
She's gonna be one really soon. She's recognizing my voice.
If I come into the room, she'll come over to me.
Like it's there's there's there's really like it. The the love,
the purity that that they have is amazing, and it
(27:15):
really does relate a lot to our relationship with God,
where it's just like we don't we don't know what
we're doing and we're trying.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
To Now there's no manual.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
And his great and his patience, and obviously I'll need
more that once she starts talking and running around and
all that stuff. The grace and the kindness that that
that we have to show parallels to God. And so
I just want to be the best that I can
be grow as an individual from it, the same way
that you know, the reason and all that stuff have
taught me things about myself and taught me things about
(27:46):
even taught me things about God. It's going to be
the same situation with my daughter and the more kids
that we have.
Speaker 1 (27:51):
I'm sure you're phenomenal, Dad, There's no question about that.
Have you guys seen Ji's wife during the game. Have
you seen how much I've.
Speaker 5 (28:00):
You cannot, you can't want you can't. Can you see
it happen live, Jonathan, or do you go back and
see it after? There is no bigger fan, which is awesome,
but she's front row and she is into it. It
is a sight to what I don't know if you
can see it real time, you have to go back
and see it after.
Speaker 2 (28:15):
She absolutely loves it, and he gotta take it easy
and I'm trying. I'm trying my.
Speaker 4 (28:21):
Best, and so you know, she's great, a little busy
during the games, but I'm gonna try and find that.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
I gotta you gotta water. You got to help me
out that day, all right? Is that last thing Jonathan
tell us about the tell Us about the clothing line,
tell Us about Judah, tell us about everything united us,
tell us about anything that you got right, you wrote
a book, you got me, you do it all, first
of all, but let everybody know about unitas. Let us everyone.
Speaker 2 (28:45):
I mean, honestly, I just I just had a lot
of doubts of the injured, so to write a book,
and you know, it became a national bestseller, and I
think that's so awesome. It's called Why I Stand. You
can check it out on Amazon and all that stuff,
and with the closing line and the shoes. It really
just came about because, you know, during the bubble, I
was signed to Nike after I told my A c L.
(29:07):
You know, they made the decision not to resign me.
And I went to my pastor and I told them
about it. Hey, I don't have a shoe company. I'm
gonna possibly be looking elsewhere. And he said, make your
own shoe. It's like that doesn't make it these days.
Speaker 1 (29:18):
There's a shoe.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
And so we went down the road and started, you know,
putting things together, and then it turns and turned into
you know, why just create a sneaker? Why not create
an entire sports and apparel of companies centered around Christ
and to give believers encouragement and you know, for them
to stand for their beliefs at the end of the day,
and that's really just it. For them to be individuals
and say, hey, this is what I believe in, this
is what I stand for, and and to find a
(29:41):
home with like minded believers from different backgrounds, different places
and was to come together. Uniting is one and so
that's how Unitus was born. The Judo one has been
honestly amazing, like like we're like going into different things now.
It's like lopes now and walking shoes and running shoes
and all these different things that we're looking at slides.
But the Judo one is the It's the first NBA
(30:03):
signature see sneaker with visible Bible versus on the outside,
And I just wanted to help that. Wow that you
the honor and glorify God. Five color ways. You can
check them out. We are uniteds dot com. You n
I t U S and uh. You know, appreciate any
support I can.
Speaker 4 (30:19):
I can wholeheartedly endorse the book.
Speaker 1 (30:21):
I read the book.
Speaker 4 (30:22):
I gave right oppist. All three of my grown children,
two of my older grandchildren have read the book and
it's just phenomenal. So congratulations all all.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
That you're doing so much serious and my mom has
you You could put unitis on a on a potholder and
she'll buy it. And she got whatever whatever you put
out there.
Speaker 2 (30:39):
It's greatly working on a uh it's like a trainer
slash runn issue right now, specifically for momes.
Speaker 1 (30:46):
So oh no, there you go.
Speaker 3 (30:47):
All right, well she'll be she'll be all you're going
to say, you're working on a potholder that you're going.
Speaker 1 (30:53):
Because driving over potholes. I didn't understand what. I appreciate
the job. This is been a lot of fun. We're
so happy for you, proud of you, and hey, have
a blast at the end of the day. Is what
to do it for. Have a blast and go out
there and make some noise.
Speaker 2 (31:07):
Loly, we'll do all right.
Speaker 1 (31:09):
Appreciate you. Jonathan Isaac the latest edition of Magic Pod Squad.
We'll see you next time.
We've got a good one for you Magic fans. The
latest installment over Orlando Magic Pod Squad, and it features
the Minister of Defense, Jonathan Isaac stops by the Pond
and Magic Fans. Remember the Florida Department of Transportation reminds
you that fans don't let fans drive drug If you've
been drinking, don't get behind the wheel. Instead, find a
sober driver or catch a ride service. Remember, drive sober
(00:25):
or get pulled over. Have a great night, and drive safe.
All we get into everything with Jonathan Isaac are this
edition of Magic Pod Squad. What are his emotions as
he is ready to take on a playoff game for
the first time in five seasons. He breaks that all
down and the journey, the long arduous road that he
has taken to be healthy and to be back and
(00:46):
ready to go into the postseason for the Orlando Magic.
His thoughts on Pallo, ban Caro and Franz Wagner, what
they might see here in the postseason, and what it's
going to take for the Orlando Magic to come away
victorious against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Some good stuff. We have
a lot of fun when Jonathan Isaac this edition of
Magic Pod Squad. This is Fawns of long Enough. They're
Orlando Magic. This is cole An, mister Jenning Suggs.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
This is Paulo man Carroll the Orlando Magic and you're
listening to the Pod Squad.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
And welcome everyone to another edition of Orlando Magic Pod Squad.
Dante Marcatelli, George Golante, David Steele, and we are very
excited to be joined by the Minister of Defense Jonathan
Isaac joining us here as we gear up for Game
one of the NBA postseason coming away. At the time
of this recording, the game will be two days away.
This is on Thursday, and I know everybody's excited. I
(01:34):
got my everybody insured on, right, You guys don't have yours,
but I get mine on. I'm all in on the
new slogos. That's nice of no shirt, right, all right,
I get I know a guy.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
I'll hook you guys, all right.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
But as we as we get ready for this Game
one coming on Saturday, JAYI thanks so much for joining us.
We're excited to catch up with you. I gotta think
this is probably the most days you've had off in
a year. How has it been the last week here
to kind of have a little time off to gear
up for this postseason. Gave Yeah, yeah, thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
It's been great, honestly, the psych the calm before the storm.
We get a chance to get into the gym rest
a little bit and then kind of fine tune and
figure out what we're doing strategy and everything like that,
and got a chance to run up it down a
little bit today, So it's all all good.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
It was thinking about this, Yeah, sorry, real quick, driver,
I was thinking about this. You know, you're you're one
of four guys that has ever experienced a postseason, right,
there's four. There's eighteen guys on the roster. You're one
of the four that's been there. You were there, and
you know you got to go back to twenty nineteen. Uh,
what do you what do you remember about your first
trip to the postseason and what do you how are
(02:42):
you attacking it differently this go around?
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Yeah, I just remember it being just super intense. There
there was that that that lure of like mystery of
not knowing what to expect, that that that definitely heightened,
like the emotions of it, the mental of it all.
And then once you get into the game, you start
to understand, like, you know, what everybody was saying was
true and some things weren't true, and you just you
(03:07):
just have to play. But the attention to detail, the
the energy level, the you know, every guy on on
the roster, everybody to touch the floor is willing or
should be or really is willing to do whatever it
takes to win the game on both sides of the floor.
And it truly does come down to who's more equipped,
who's making shots, who's able to execute, and who's able
(03:27):
to minimize, you know, game plan mistakes that they're trying
to take away.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
So along those lines, have the guys been leaning on
you and and Joe and Gary a little bit because
they're like, again, like Dante said, you guys are the
only ones that have been through this in any capacity
on this roster.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
I mean we've been vocal, but I feel like, you know,
the the more that you go into it in terms
of like, oh my gosh, you guys don't know what
you're going to expect, be so tough, But what coaches
done jab of is just hey, it's it's basketball. Yes,
we're taking this to another level in terms of our detailing.
You know, we control our own energy and when I think,
(04:05):
you know, when we when we've been right, we've been
amazing when it comes to energy level, locking in, defensive strategy,
all the things like that. So I don't have a
concern there. But what I love is courches like it's
basketball like, allow, everything's going to be crazy, But if
we can stay tight, stay in, not allow any distractions
and just and just stay focused, really is will be
(04:25):
just fine. So if anybody's asking me on telling them
the same things, it's it's going to be different. But
it's definitely something that you can handle. And I don't
want to I don't want to hype it up too
much to where you know, you get in your own way.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
You know. Jonathan George just alluded to it. The Magic
don't have a lot of players with playoff experience. I
think Joe's played in fifty games, maybe six for the season,
Judo and Markel, Garry, Harris Cleveland, a lot of guys
that have been through a lot of the playoffs. And
I think there's a perception around the league that the
Magic don't have the experience of the postseason to make
(04:58):
a serious run this year. How would you answer.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
That, Well, I mean if if, if what you're going
off of is experience, then you know, then you have
a point. You know, it is what it is. But
I think that we have done an amazing job at
accepting the challenge, you know, when we've needed to. You you,
you go on the three game road trip losing streak,
and then come home and have to do a do
(05:22):
or die game in minds against Milwaukee, a team that
blew you out, you know, a few games beforehand. We
treated that like a Game seven in a playoff series,
and we responded and handled our business throughout the entirety
of the game. And so I'm not looking at it
from that standpoint of, you know what, we don't have
them looking at it from our strengths. What we are
is the individuals are collective superpower, which is defense and
(05:45):
our size and our versatility. And I don't think that
there's a team that that matches up against us well, uh,
you know, for a series. And so that's how I feel.
I think that's how we feel, and we'll just see
how it unfolds.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
Coach Bosley the other day said, and fran they're mature
beyond their years. You're in that locker, would you agree?
Speaker 1 (06:04):
With that absolutely.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
I think it's obvious, you know, to probably to be
in the position that he's in as the second year guy,
Franz to be a third year guy and too, and
to lead a team, you know, into the postseason. And
the way that they have is it's been remarkable. You know,
I think they're both I've seen some stat they're both
you know, amongst Lebron or somebody else in some type
of category. You know, that sets them apart from a
(06:27):
lot of other guys. So you know, respect to them
and and and you know how they've been able to
handle everything and been able to handle the ups and
downs of the season because everybody, you know, fran has
been on a streak of not playing too great, and
he's found a way to get back piece head up
and down throughout the season. And they they both responded
when it's necessary. So I'm expecting them to carry on
(06:48):
that trend into the postseason.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
Now that you get the year the regular season in
the books, take us back to training camp, take us
back to kind of how you were feeling and how
you were looking at the start of the camp to
where you are. I mean, it's got to feel like
it's got to feel like it was a couple of
years ago. How long ago? Training camp seems like forever ago.
But just take us through this season, that you just
had fifty eight games sixteen minutes a night, and where
(07:12):
you thought you were and how you are now.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Yeah, I don't even remember training camp, right, I don't
believe it. Yeah, I mean, you know, going into the season,
there was a lot of what ifs surrounding me and
even in my own mind about you know, am I
going to be able to stay healthy? You know, where
am I going to be at in the rotation? Am
I ever going to get off of minutes restriction? That
was all there throughout the entirety of the season, And
(07:35):
it's just it's been amazing to just watch it, watch
it unfold, the ups and downs of the season up,
you know, trying to find my shot, trying to find
where I fit in, trying to find all these different
things going through the conditioning, and then just the body
aches and the soreness of playing a lot of minutes
and back to backs, that stuff we've been trying to
figure out. So it's just been it's just been I
(07:56):
would I would say there's been a lot of grace
you know, extended from the coaching staff to the team,
to me, that my teammates to me and seeing me
in one day out one day, you know, it's sticking
with me. And then now we get to the point
where we're shaping up and you know, you know, about
a grace of God him, I'm able to play, you know,
extended minutes and you know, for my sake and you know,
(08:18):
be a contributing back to the team.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Jay I take I don't want you to go back
to training camp. I want you to go back to
Game eighty two where we were coming off the losing streak.
We are heading into that game and coach Moseley obviously
pulls you into the office and says, hey, you're starting
tonight for us against the Bucks. What what? What went
into that conversation? How did you feel? And obviously the
(08:43):
whole culmination of maybe you being in and out the
way you were all season was to get to April
and Game eighty two and the playoffs and here we are.
So what was that like when when mose called you
in and said, hey, listen, ja I we're going with you.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Let's go.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Yeah, it was it was a lot, honestly, like, you know,
I found out the day before. You know, we were
with the team when Dale had injured his back, and
you know, he was working through that and we're in
the meeting and coach says you have to start, and
so it was it was a lot of emotions like one, now,
you know, I'm excited. I'm ready to accept the challenge.
There's the okay, you know, I haven't played that much
(09:20):
at the five with this specific group. You know, I
started coming in, you know, towards the end of the
middle of the first quarter and getting some running with them,
but there hasn't been a ton of time for me
to understand where I'm going with what things are doing,
and so you know, it was kind of quick, and
you know, for me, it's just about you know, accepting
the challenge, trying my best to play as hard as
I possibly can and to be a help to my teammates.
(09:42):
And I'm glad that the Milwaukee game went the way
that it went.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
You know, Jay I, I'd like to maybe take a
wide view of your journey. You know, where you've come from.
You came as the number six pick at twenty seventeen,
You had an injury riddle, rookie year. You got a
great second year in the league, helped the team get
to the NBA playoffs. Then I guess January first of
(10:06):
twenty twenty, first knee injury. Then you come back in
the bubble, You stand for your faith in the bubble.
You injure your knee again in August of twenty twenty.
You're out for two and a half years trying to
get back on the court. You finally get back last January.
You have another injury about a month end of that season,
(10:26):
and you bounce back once again. And here you are,
having played fifty eight games or one of the top
defensive players in the NBA. I just wonder what goes
through your mind? What have you learned, what has this experienced,
this journey, what does it meant to you?
Speaker 2 (10:42):
You know, I was literally earlier today just in my car,
just reflecting on everything that you just said about the
entirety of the journey. Now, I feel like you know
a lot of people who don't know. Obviously, you don't
know the behind the scenes or what goes in into
the day to day of going through that process. Talked
about the injury. You're coming back from one injury, you
(11:02):
injure something else while you're while you're coming back from
that injury, you injer something else. It has been it's
been nothing short of just of just difficult. You know that,
the mental battle of trying to stay locked in the
the monotony of you know, day in and day out,
of doing the same things over and over again, seeing
the same people, working with the same people over and over.
(11:23):
And I was in my car and I was just saying, God,
I'm grateful to you for your faithfulness, and I'm seeing
the I'm seeing the reality in my life of what
what God can do and in the the truth of
His word. Because you know a lot of people trusting
a whole bunch of different things. You know, you you
you put your trust in this for that and for
(11:44):
for me. Throughout this entirety of this process. I have
tried my best. It hasn't been perfect, not even close,
but I have tried my best to put my faith
in Christ and say, I don't know where I'm going,
I don't know how I'm gonna get there. I can't
see the finish line. I had setback after setback, but
I'm trusting You to get me to where you want
me to be, and I'm gonna try my best to
(12:04):
honor you throughout the process in the midst of my
ups and downs. You know, I have amazing people around me,
my wife that has stuck with me throughout the entirety
of the process, my family, my church family, my pastor,
and and now I get to the place where, you know,
I'm starting gay eighty two of the season and and
well we'll see what happens, you know, during the post
and where we go with that. But just it has
(12:26):
been it's been nothing short of just to me, just
a miracle, low key, and I don't I don't know
who who is took off nine hundred and four days
from you know, basketball with injuries and come back and
all right has has done what I've done. And you know, honestly,
no glory to myself. I just I'm grateful and I
just want to just continue to trust him and move forward.
And if he could do this, what else can he do?
(12:46):
And and you know, who knows what will end up
in the postseason and what we'll do, but I'm believing
for the best and the biggest thing that we could
possibly do, which just win it all. And so uh
that that that's that's been it.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
It's an amazing outlook. And I, you know, I think
about you've got such following and you've got so many people,
uh you know. I I see the messages and the
positive messages that you'll put out there sometimes and it's
got such a great response and reception. But every day
isn't easy. Every day isn't easy. So what would you say?
So many people are going through something right now, and
what is your message to them when things get hard
(13:17):
as it did for you? What do you what do
you tell people? What's your motivation for them? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (13:22):
I think I think there's twofold I think, you know,
there's there's the there's the people who are who are
outside of Christ that are going through difficulty in their lives.
They're trying to figure out who they are and what
they're doing. My advice to them would be to to
to turn to Christ. That the the fulfillment of my
life has been so much, you know, so grand outside
of basketball and my like literally used to be just basketball.
(13:44):
It was video games and basketball. And now to see
how I've grown as an individual as a man, as
you know, to auband to a father, it's been because
of my faith in Christ and allowing Him to lead
my life. And so there's that point if you're in
a place where you don't know who you are, you
don't and then you don't know where you're going, turn
to Christ and then the people that are in Christ,
I would say to remain faithful. And you know, one
(14:07):
of the things that I put on Instagram today was that,
you know, negative circumstances are a test of faithfulness. And
I wanted to get to a place in my life
where my faith in Christ, obedience to him, my my my,
my faithfulness to Him wasn't predicated on everything going the
way I wanted it to go. And I have seen
that the more that I have just stuck with it,
remained faithful, God has been faithful to me. And so
(14:30):
that there will be the two things I said also.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
Well said very good, Jay.
Speaker 4 (14:34):
I I know you know, as a Christian, part of
what is all you're all about is to be a servant.
That's kind of the attitude that that that you have.
And I've noticed that Jamal Mosley has pretty much is
a similar type of point of view. I mean, he's
a guy that really wants to make everybody better. He's
(14:56):
got a servant attitude as well. Does that permeate the
locker room? Is that part of what the magic is
all about because of maybe the coach is attitude, your attitude?
Speaker 2 (15:06):
Yeah, I really think so. I think throughout the entirety
of the season, coach has harped on, you know, by
committee and doing things together and as a team. We've
done things outside of the court on the court together,
but that this this idea that everybody can contribute, and
at different points in the season we've needed other guys
to contribute and to and to step up and to
(15:26):
make shots and then to make plays from guys that
you wouldn't expect or from the guys that aren't usually
doing it all the time. And so I think this
season has been a by any season where we bind ourselves,
you know, in the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference,
ready to you know, take on the playoff series. It
hasn't all been on one player, you know, tons of
guys that have contributed to get us to where we
(15:47):
are right now.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
But does that make it a little more satisfying Ji
that it's been that way, that that that you can
look at it as a as a group effort. That
I mean one to fifteen. Everybody has had a moment
at some point during this during this journey to the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
Yeah, it makes it fun. You you feel like you're
a part of something bigger than yourself, and you know
everybody's bought into that, and it really it has been
a truly enjoyable time. We really like each other. It's
not really fake, like we really do enjoy being around
each other. And I think that that's healthy and and
and good. As you're getting ready to go into battle,
there there's gonna be teams that that fragment, you know,
(16:23):
as soon as something goes wrong. But I think that
we've we've we've been through enough tests to be able
to come together and regroup no matter what happens.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
Has there a matter for you, like, has there been
a high a highlight just for you for the season,
or or a couple of moments, uh that stand out,
something that really stands out to you.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
There's a few games, you know, There's one game that
I didn't play, and it was Denver up in Denver, uh,
where I'm watching from the sideline. I'm watching a team
find their belief throughout the game and and just claw
their way back into a into a win. I thought
that was really cool. I think a big one was
(17:02):
probably this Milwaukee game, this past one. Just do or die?
You know who are we as as a group? Are
we a team that's gonna you know, we got hit?
You know we got hit early. I think they got
off to an early league and we were able to
bunker down and show who we are as a basketball team.
Lock in defensively, shot started the fall. I think the
couple of game season that have solidified our identity, and
(17:23):
those are two of them.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
You got to play in the NBA. You gotta play
sixty five games to be eligible for the postseason awards.
You you would be on an all defensive team. I
mean it just changed this year. You would be on
one of the all defensive teams. There's no question about.
We've seen you long enough to know you are our
best defensive player and probably the best offensive player in
the league. What is your mentality as you go into
(17:47):
this playoff series knowing what you bring defensively?
Speaker 2 (17:50):
Yeah, I mean, honestly, it's not even I don't even
know the right way to say, like I'm not going
to the game, like I'm going to do this, or
I'm gonna show this guy down. I just try to
play as hard as I can play, and a lot
of times I find myself in the right place at
the right time. I'm trying to make my matchup as
difficult as as I possibly can unneath the person that
(18:12):
I'm guarding. And you know that that that gets box
and steals and being in the right place in altering shots,
and a lot of times when I'm out there, I'm
just kind of lost in effort and trying to to
play really hard and it turns into you know, great
defensive plays, and so you know, I'm not necessarily I
believe I'm the best defensive player in the NBA. You know,
that's a trip that I wear. You know, it'll add
(18:35):
fuel to the buyer of not being able to because
of the rule. I get it, you know, I think
the rule is is for it, but you know it'll
just drive me to to to try my best to
be a defensive minister.
Speaker 4 (18:45):
In this this series, watching you play defense is really fun.
I mean, we really really enjoy it. And you know,
there are times when you come into the game if
the team is a little sluggish, when you're not starting,
we'll see what happens on Saturday. But now a lot
of times you'll provide that spark, but there are other
times it seems from the crowd kind of generates. When
(19:07):
you make a good play, then the crowd goes crazy,
and then it just seems to snowball. What about the
effect of that and having adjailent Suggs, Franz Foger who
are also elite defenders alongside of you.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
Yeah, no, we We've had you know, I say it
all the time. We've had games where I wasn't and
we put on defensive master classes. So I'm definitely not
the only you know, defensive minded guy on the team.
You know, Jalen Suggs is is different. What been able
to do to you know, premier guards throughout the league,
throughout this entire season, and Book is an absolutely slept
on defender. He continued to get as as as a
(19:42):
young guy defending, rebounding. You got mowed down there, you
got Gwyndale down there. We've got g Harris who's picking
up Book. Coort Ab was in a full court. Cole
has continued to get better.
Speaker 4 (19:54):
And so Pallo getting better too. Pallow's getting there.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
We've continued to grow in that city, and uh, I
think with the fan base too, is like I think
they're on the same process as us, Like they've like
they're finding their blue here and there and and we'll
have sister and they'll go auto.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
I don't know, like do do we really believe?
Speaker 2 (20:12):
And and we'll come back out due and oh my gosh,
can you guys do this all the time? Like a
flow of finding our identity and our footing and get
into the postseason. This season has been huge for us
and going into the next season and who knows what's
gonna happen. I think that this season has solidified that
we're a team worth looking at and and we're going
to continue to push this further.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
I think I asked you this the other day. Job there,
But is there any chance that Jalen and Mo Wagner's
heads might literally explode during the post.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
Season to be a month definite the game one, whether
it's a good thing that happens or yes, happened, you know,
we we're definitely gonna see some emotion. You know, we
can go into the game talking about, uh, you know,
let's let's stay focused all we want, you know, it's
it's a part of who we are with those guys.
(21:00):
You know, they're they're emotional guys, and they wear it
on their sleeves and it's a part of who they
are and it's a part of what makes them so good.
And obviously there's times where you've got to pull it
back and and and get into it with the reps
and all that stuff, but they wouldn't be who they
are without.
Speaker 3 (21:13):
It, Jay, I, what what is the sense you feel
in the community about this team? I mean, you've been
here the long here the longest tenured member of the Magic,
You've seen it all at this point. What what what
do you what's your sense of of the fans and
everything in the community when when you're out and about.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
Yeah, I think it's just growing and and and it
should be. It should be with the way that this
team is trended. And but where we've come from, you know,
the lulls of the Magic seasons and and it's it's
it's been you know, it's been amazing to watch the
rise of us. I remember they had me speak into
a the season ticket holders reps or the meeting or whatever,
(21:53):
and I said, I said, for them to be telling
the season ticket holders who're going to be buying. I said,
you know, you don't want to get into late like
at the time is now to kind of punch that
ticket because we're gonna go, We're gonna rise, and there's
still so much room for us to grow. We're definitely
not there yet. But I think coach Mode and the
front office has figured out a winning identity and how
(22:16):
they can plug players in plut players out. Who knows
that they'll continue to move forward and the magic will
be successful.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
They should have given you commission out of that meeting.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
Seriously, I hope that's off.
Speaker 3 (22:26):
Get them on the sales staff.
Speaker 1 (22:29):
What what are things that Polo and Frands don't know?
Speaker 5 (22:31):
What?
Speaker 1 (22:31):
What do they not know that they're about to experience.
They're obviously they're gonna a lot of attention is going
to be on them on the offensive end. What are
some of the things that they're about to experience and
what makes them so unique and talented that they'll be
able to handle it?
Speaker 2 (22:45):
Yeah, I think what they're going to experience is the
level of detail that the other team is going into
specifically focused on them. So it's not just about this
is the this is what we're gonna do against them.
They're what they're looking at, tendencies they're looking at when
Polo's going right, this is what he's doing. Whole police
boy's let this what he's doing. When he turns his back,
this is doing. And they're going to try their best
(23:05):
to hedge that as much as possible to you know,
for there to better themselves. And so I'm sure that
early in the game, as the game goes on, they're
gonna pick up on Oh wow, I haven't seen this
yet this year, this defense, the way that they're guarding.
You know, they may switch, they may double, they may
do all these different things, and they've seen a bunch
of that this year. But there's definitely gonna be new
(23:25):
things that you know, other teams haven't done, just with
the level of I'm sure film that they're watching and
anything like that. But they they've adjusted, Like, like to
think about, for for Powow to be in the position
that he's in and to have teams so heavily focused
on him, so heavily focused on Franz, they have still produced,
you know, at a high level, you know, for us
to be in the position that we're in right now,
(23:47):
so I have you know, no doubt that they're going
to be able to adjust and figure out how to
how to put the ball in the basket, how to
get other guys involved. And it made some time during
the first game, but they'll get to it. They're both
lead you know, high high i Q players and highly
motivated players, and they're not gonna lay down. They're gonna
want to figure it out and get going.
Speaker 4 (24:09):
Speaking of high i Q players, Joe Ingles has been
has been face timing apparently Donovan Mitchell. Ye. A couple
of days those guys were teammates in Utah. Donavan Mitchell
said today he said, I'm tired, you know, I hope,
I hope I've only got one more face time with Joe.
But what do you think that looks like? What does
a what does that look like? Joe Ingles and Donovan
(24:30):
Mitchell face.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
Timing, Well, it's definitely just Joe Ingles talking crap the
entire time, just trying. I don't know, it's just just
telling Donovan we're gonna beat him, and telling Joe's probably
giving away all our serious Honestly, those are He's he
he's gonna talk, he's gonna talking, and uh, you know
(24:52):
I'm sure they have a great relationship. So they're going
back and forth and then they're they're talking trash and everything,
so that that's that's cool, that's great.
Speaker 1 (25:02):
Is there gonna be a part on Saturday where you
where you stop for a second, look around and be
able and just get extra amped up and think, this
is what we do this for. This is why it
works so hard. We're here and it's the playoffs. Say
you can't only do it for a second because you
got a game to play. But do you think it'll
do You think it'll sink in and hit you and
give you a little extra juice at some point on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (25:22):
Yeah, just with the start of the game. I'm I'm
I'm gonna that other the game, I'm gonna look around,
you know, I prayed during the anthem, and I'm just gonna,
you know, thank God and and and recognize the stage
that he's set and just you know, play to honor him,
and so just go out there and give my best,
but definitely take in and soak in the moment.
Speaker 1 (25:40):
Well, tell us about the series, give it, give us
your outlook, and what's it gonna take for for the
magic to to come out?
Speaker 2 (25:46):
Of this here first round against Cleveland. Yeah, I think
we're just gonna have to to be our sales. We're
going to have to out physical them. We're gonna have
to our Our defense is gonna have to be elite.
You know. They they've got elite guard, they got bigs.
We can around the basket. They've got you know, really
good shooting as well. They stayed in their wings. They
shoot the ball really really well, and the losses they don't.
(26:06):
And so we're gonna have to take a three point
line and force them to play inside the two and
force Donovan and and and uh Darius to make tough
twos all night. We're gonna have to box out and
rend then and I think that we can do that.
I think we've proven that we can take teams off
the three proNT line, we can force them in the
tough twos and we can rebound it. And then on
the offensive end, we've got to continue to let the
ball move. And you know, our guys gonna have to
(26:27):
play well. Apolo Franz, I'm gonna have to make some shots.
Everybody's gonna have to make shots. You here is gonna
have to get going. Cole Is gonna have to come
into the game and affect the game in a positive
way offensively, and you know, we'll figure it out from there.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
I like it. We've all seen it, Jonathan, but you
got to see it now. It's fun for us to
watch through you. What kind of perspective has it given you?
Be a dad? There's nothing better?
Speaker 2 (26:50):
Is there?
Speaker 5 (26:52):
No?
Speaker 2 (26:52):
Man? I it's it really is hard to find the words.
Like she she's getting to that point now where like
I can call her from another room and come over.
She's gonna be one really soon. She's recognizing my voice.
If I come into the room, she'll come over to me.
Like it's there's there's there's really like it. The the love,
the purity that that they have is amazing, and it
(27:15):
really does relate a lot to our relationship with God,
where it's just like we don't we don't know what
we're doing and we're trying.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
To Now there's no manual.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
And his great and his patience, and obviously I'll need
more that once she starts talking and running around and
all that stuff. The grace and the kindness that that
that we have to show parallels to God. And so
I just want to be the best that I can
be grow as an individual from it, the same way
that you know, the reason and all that stuff have
taught me things about myself and taught me things about
(27:46):
even taught me things about God. It's going to be
the same situation with my daughter and the more kids
that we have.
Speaker 1 (27:51):
I'm sure you're phenomenal, Dad, There's no question about that.
Have you guys seen Ji's wife during the game. Have
you seen how much I've.
Speaker 5 (28:00):
You cannot, you can't want you can't. Can you see
it happen live, Jonathan, or do you go back and
see it after? There is no bigger fan, which is awesome,
but she's front row and she is into it. It
is a sight to what I don't know if you
can see it real time, you have to go back
and see it after.
Speaker 2 (28:15):
She absolutely loves it, and he gotta take it easy
and I'm trying. I'm trying my.
Speaker 4 (28:21):
Best, and so you know, she's great, a little busy
during the games, but I'm gonna try and find that.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
I gotta you gotta water. You got to help me
out that day, all right? Is that last thing Jonathan
tell us about the tell Us about the clothing line,
tell Us about Judah, tell us about everything united us,
tell us about anything that you got right, you wrote
a book, you got me, you do it all, first
of all, but let everybody know about unitas. Let us everyone.
Speaker 2 (28:45):
I mean, honestly, I just I just had a lot
of doubts of the injured, so to write a book,
and you know, it became a national bestseller, and I
think that's so awesome. It's called Why I Stand. You
can check it out on Amazon and all that stuff,
and with the closing line and the shoes. It really
just came about because, you know, during the bubble, I
was signed to Nike after I told my A c L.
(29:07):
You know, they made the decision not to resign me.
And I went to my pastor and I told them
about it. Hey, I don't have a shoe company. I'm
gonna possibly be looking elsewhere. And he said, make your
own shoe. It's like that doesn't make it these days.
Speaker 1 (29:18):
There's a shoe.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
And so we went down the road and started, you know,
putting things together, and then it turns and turned into
you know, why just create a sneaker? Why not create
an entire sports and apparel of companies centered around Christ
and to give believers encouragement and you know, for them
to stand for their beliefs at the end of the day,
and that's really just it. For them to be individuals
and say, hey, this is what I believe in, this
is what I stand for, and and to find a
(29:41):
home with like minded believers from different backgrounds, different places
and was to come together. Uniting is one and so
that's how Unitus was born. The Judo one has been
honestly amazing, like like we're like going into different things now.
It's like lopes now and walking shoes and running shoes
and all these different things that we're looking at slides.
But the Judo one is the It's the first NBA
(30:03):
signature see sneaker with visible Bible versus on the outside,
And I just wanted to help that. Wow that you
the honor and glorify God. Five color ways. You can
check them out. We are uniteds dot com. You n
I t U S and uh. You know, appreciate any
support I can.
Speaker 4 (30:19):
I can wholeheartedly endorse the book.
Speaker 1 (30:21):
I read the book.
Speaker 4 (30:22):
I gave right oppist. All three of my grown children,
two of my older grandchildren have read the book and
it's just phenomenal. So congratulations all all.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
That you're doing so much serious and my mom has
you You could put unitis on a on a potholder and
she'll buy it. And she got whatever whatever you put
out there.
Speaker 2 (30:39):
It's greatly working on a uh it's like a trainer
slash runn issue right now, specifically for momes.
Speaker 1 (30:46):
So oh no, there you go.
Speaker 3 (30:47):
All right, well she'll be she'll be all you're going
to say, you're working on a potholder that you're going.
Speaker 1 (30:53):
Because driving over potholes. I didn't understand what. I appreciate
the job. This is been a lot of fun. We're
so happy for you, proud of you, and hey, have
a blast at the end of the day. Is what
to do it for. Have a blast and go out
there and make some noise.
Speaker 2 (31:07):
Loly, we'll do all right.
Speaker 1 (31:09):
Appreciate you. Jonathan Isaac the latest edition of Magic Pod Squad.
We'll see you next time.
Host
Dante Marchitelli
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