One of the last roster pieces connecting the past era of the Magic to the modern version, Jonathan Isaac at first hesitated to answer whether or not this year is the most excited he’s felt entering a new season.

Isaac, who Orlando picked at No. 6 in the 2017 NBA draft, has played alongside both Nikola Vucevic and Paolo Banchero throughout his injury-riddled career in blue and white uniforms.

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He’s seen the ups and downs of the franchise, but even he couldn’t deny the high expectations set for the Magic this year after an offseason of change in what’s considered to be a weaker Eastern Conference.

“I feel bad for saying yes, but every season is different,” Isaac said recently. “For a lot of seasons I was coming into it rehabbing or doing stuff so I wasn’t as excited about the start of the year as I am right now. But I’m very excited.

“It’s hard to gauge it, but I don’t think I could be more excited than I am right now,” he added.

Isaac hopes to be a key piece to Orlando’s success this season. Although he played in at least 70 games for just the second time in his career last season, his minutes were limited and he fell out of the primary rotation toward the end of the year.

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He admits there were frustrating moments last season.

“There were times last season for me that weren’t fun,” he said. “I’m looking to get back to having fun and being here with the guys, enjoying myself no matter what happens.”

Isaac shot a career-low 25.8% from 3-point range last season and appeared less bouncy on the defensive end of the court.

At exit interviews after Boston eliminated Orlando in the first round of the playoffs, Isaac shared that the team took a wrong step when they decided he should add weight to his frame with the idea that he’d play more at center than power forward.

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This summer, he focused on cutting some of that weight, and he appears slimmer. He’s listed at 230 pounds on the team’s official site compared to the 250 he entered last season. His new weight is still up from 219 he was in October 2024, but he feels lighter.

“I feel amazing,” Isaac said. “I definitely lost some weight, which feels good.”

Isaac said he ate less over the offseason and trimmed down with work in the weight room. He hopes it contributes to better shooting percentages from distance.

“It was obvious I struggled to shoot the ball last year,” he said. “From shooting 37.5% to 25% last season, I struggled not just physically shooting a basketball, but it took a toll on me mentally. I feel like getting back to myself, even just losing a little bit of the weight gives me more freedom to fly around and be myself.”

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Isaac isn’t expecting any minutes restrictions, but he’s unsure of his exact role for the Magic. He said it’ll change throughout the season but he’s entering the year with an open mind under coach Jamahl Mosley.

During Saturday’s preseason opener against the Heat, Isaac contributed 4 points and 4 rebounds in 15 minutes of action.

Now multiple seasons removed from missing 2 1/2 years due to various left knee injuries, Isaac is ready to attack his eighth year as a pro in Orlando.

“Honestly, I don’t really think about it,” he said about his injury past. “My goal this season is 82 (games), and if nothing happens, if I don’t get any sicknesses, I should be fine to go 82.”

Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com