Best of ORL 2020
Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac and his No. 1 “City Edition’’ uniform provide the perfect introduction to the results of our annual Best of ORL poll, with reader picks in dozens of areas ranging from Shops & Eateries to Pets & Personalities. Plus, we’ve got a special shout-out to the generous hoops star.
Jonathan Isaac (ROBERTO GONZALEZ)
EDITOR’S AWARD FOR BIGGEST HEART…
Jonathan Isaac, Orlando Magic
“Minister of Defense.’’ That’s the nickname of Jonathan Isaac, the Orlando Magic forward known for his tenacity when the other team has the basketball. Isaac is also a minister of another kind, having recently been ordained through Orlando’s J.U.M.P Ministries Global Church.
Isaac practices what he preaches. In late March, he teamed with J.U.M.P. and Project Life Inc. to start providing free hot breakfasts and lunches to school-aged children in need after the pandemic shut down classrooms and put parents out of work. The program continues five days a week.
Other Magic players pitched in with Isaac, including Mo Bamba and Aaron Gordon, who made a financial contribution toward feeding homeless students.
So what are the qualities of a big heart? Check out what Isaac told nba.com recently and you’ll have a clue:
“It’s an awesome feeling to help out, but I take it humbly and I don’t want any glory. All the glory goes to Jesus and we want to keep this project at the forefront,’’ he said. “We feel an obligation because we have been blessed. We want to give back and pour ourselves into our community and help everybody get through this.”
