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Orlando's Jonathan Isaac first in NBA bubble to stand during anthem
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Jonathan Isaac explains decision to stand for anthem (1:38)
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Aug 1, 2020
Nick Friedell
ESPN Staff Writer
Orlando Magic big man Jonathan Isaac became the first player in the NBA bubble not to kneel for the national anthem or wear a Black Lives Matter T-shirt over his jersey before a seeding game.

The decision to stand came before Orlando's 128-118 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday afternoon, the third game to be played in the NBA bubble in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

Later Friday, San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and assistant Becky Hammon also stood during the anthem before their game against the Sacramento Kings. In the league's two previous games Thursday -- Jazz-Pelicans and Clippers-Lakers -- all players and coaches kneeled during the anthem.

After the Magic's victory, Isaac, who is Black, 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."