Jonathan Isaac chose to stand for the national anthem and also didn't wear a Black Lives Matter shirt unlike the rest of the Orlando Magic.

Isaac is well-known as one of the NBA's most openly religious players.

Isaac was asked if he believed that Black lives matter.

"Absolutely," Isaac said. "I believe that Black lives matter. A lot went into my decision and part of it is my thought that kneeling while wearing a Black Lives Matter T-shirt don't go hand in hand with supporting Black lives. And so I felt like, just me personally and what it is that I believe in, standing on a stance that I do believe that Black lives matter, but I just felt like it was a decision that I had to make and I didn't feel like putting that shirt on went hand in hand with supporting Black lives."

Isaac discussed his faith several times while describing why he made his decision.

"I don't think that kneeling or putting on a T-shirt for me, personally, is the answer," he said. "I feel like for me Black lives are supported through the Gospel. All lives are supported through the Gospel. That we all have things that we do wrong and sometimes it gets into a place of pointing fingers about which wrong is worse.

"I feel like the Bible tells us we all fall short of God's glory and at the end of the day whoever will humble themselves and seek God and repent of their sins that we could see it in a different light -- see our mistakes and people's mistakes in a different light, see people's evil in a different light. And that it would help bring us closer together and get past anything that's on the surface that doesn't really deal with the hearts of men and women."

Isaac spoke to his teammates in a team meeting prior to Friday's game.

"We had a team meeting," he said. "I told them that they know who I am as a man, they know who I am as a person. They know what it is that I believe and they respected me for the decision that I made and it was all love. So they understood that for me personally it's not coming from a position of wanting to be popular or seen or anything other than a humble [servant] of Jesus. And that's where I stake my flag and that's just how I felt and they respected me for it because they know who I am, they know my heart."

Jonathan Isaac will make his return to the Orlando Magic during Monday's scrimmage, reported Josh Robbins of The Athletic.

Isaac has been out with a sprained knee since January 1st.

Isaac has exceeded expectations as the team increased his work load. 

“I feel like over the course of getting my knee right I’ve worked on my jumper. I’ve watched a lot of film to try to just learn and grow in IQ as a basketball player. So that’s gone well. Honestly, a part of it is just getting back. I’m not so much focused on coming out and blowing the doors off anything but just getting my feet wet again, and I’m feeling good about it. So I feel like I’m the same player, and I just continue to take steps forward," said Isaac. 

The Orlando Magic laid off 31 full-time employees due to a loss of revenue from the pandemic, reported Josh Robbins and Shams Charania of The Athletic.

“Our business, as well as many others like us, are significantly impacted due to COVID-19. We have had to make some very difficult business decisions in these unprecedented times. Due to this reality we have had to make the very hard decision to evaluate our overall structure, reorganize and reduce our headcount.

“For an organization like ours, whose mission is centered around our people, and creating the best work environment possible, grounded in family values, this is a very difficult situation to confront, and it will be even more difficult for our colleagues who will be leaving us. Please know that we do not take this decision lightly, and although most difficult for our colleagues that we must say goodbye to, please know that this is a decision that is very difficult for our organization as well. This is not the fault of any specific individual that we must part with today, this decision is purely about becoming more efficient in a post COVID-19 environment, and the requirement to be more efficient in this unknown future that we find ourselves faced with," released team CEO Alex Martins in a statement.

The Magic previously had around 300 full-time employees before the layoffs. 

James Ennis revealed he tested positive for COVID-19 several weeks ago and reentry rejoined the Orlando Magic.

"It was tough," Ennis said during a video call with reporters. "Just quarantined away from your family a little bit so I was in a separate room for about two weeks. And it's just tough not being able to work out and prepare for this, this bubble. But I'm just happy to be back on the court; trying to get my legs under me, just trying to get back in rhythm."

Ennis admitted that he is "rusty" as he works his way back from the virus.

"I lost my wind," Ennis said. "I'm rusty, honestly. So I got to shake the dust off of me. By that, I got to stay in the gym. I got to keep doing the little things to get my body back right and stuff like that, get my legs under me. I'm ready, I'm here, my focus is at 100, I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get back to two-weeks James, prior to having the COVID. I'm ready. I'm excited."

Ennis noted that he experienced many symptoms while fighting the virus.

"I had a headache for like four to five days," Ennis said. "First 24 hours I was down, throwing up. But now my health is better, I'm just trying to get my wind up and my legs back under me and just get in rhythm because our first scrimmage is next week. I just want to be prepared for that."