ORLANDO, Fla. — After missing two-plus NBA seasons while recovering from injuries, Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac may finally be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel that eventually could lead to his return to basketball action.

The Magic announced on Twitter that Isaac has been assigned to practice with the team's G League affiliate in Lakeland as part of his continuing rehabilitation process. It's the first time since the team disclosed he needed a surgical procedure near the end of last season that the team has said much about his rehab other than he was continuing to put in work to get better but that there was no timetable for his return.

To be clear, there still is no timetable for his return. As with all their injured players, the Magic said a timetable for his return will be based upon on how he responds and recovers from workouts and other continuing treatment.

But for Isaac, his teammates and coaches and a concerned fan base, it is welcome news that he is getting back on the court, even if just for workouts.

Isaac, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, originally tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in an NBA game against the Sacramento Kings on August 2, 2020. He underwent surgery to repair the ligament and began a lengthy rehab. During that process, the team announced in late March 2022 that Isaac would miss the rest of the 2021-22 season because he needed a surgical procedure to repair what it called a "minor right hamstring injury." He has missed all of the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons and the start of the 2022-23 season because of his leg injuries.

From 2017-2019, Isaac has played in only 136 games because of injuries or illness, starting 106 — including five playoff games. He has averaged 9.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.51 blocks and 1.07 steals in 25.8 minutes per game in his career. Before he was injured, some NBA experts predicted he could be on his way to league defensive honors.

Since his injury, Isaac has focused on his rehabilitation, community service and his faith. He also has become a published author.

Isaac had said since the Magic's media day in late September that he knew he would play again sometime this season. Early last month, he told the Orlando Sentinel that he was close to playing again. The Magic never set a timetable for that return.

Orlando has been decimated by injuries this season, and Coach Jamahl Mosley has had to juggle his lineup game by game based on who was available to play. The Magic have played games this season with eight of their 17 players out because of injury or illness. Recently, guards Markelle Fultz (fractured toe) and Cole Anthony (right internal oblique muscle) returned from extended absences. Fultz had not played all season. However, they then had to put guard Gary Harris (strained right hamstring) and center Mo Bamba (back spasms) on the injured list.

As of Tuesday, Bamba did not appear on the injured list. However, they still were without Harris, Isaac, forward/center Wendell Carter Jr.  (strained right plantar fascia), guard Jalen Suggs (sore right ankle) and forward Chuma Okeke (sore left knee). 

The Magic play the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at Amway Center, the second contest of a five-game homestand.