The Orlando Magic faced a somber moment on Thursday when news of a tragic shooting at Florida State University broke during their practice session. The incident sadly did result in the death of two people and injuring six others. It forced players and coaches to take a long hard look at what it means to live life outside the basketball court.
Magic forward Jonathan Isaac, who played one season at Florida State before entering the NBA, expressed his deep sadness upon hearing the news. He wasted no time in shoving aside concerns over a new playoff series against the Boston Celtics. Instead, for days, he struggled with the political implications of that tragedy. Isaac continued, “The Bible tells us to weep with those who weep and mourn with those who mourn.” Not surprisingly, he stressed his dependence upon faith during these painful periods.
Head coach Jamahl Mosley spoke about the heartbreaking occurrence following Wednesday’s practice. He characterized his own mind as “all over the place” in the wake of receiving the news. Yet Mosley made it clear that human lives are the priority. He said, “Lives are more important, and human beings are more important than an NBA game or an NBA playoff series on any particular night.”
The shooting at Florida State University resonated deeply for both Mosley and Isaac. Yet, they were not prepared for the deep emotional toll it would take on them. Mosley voiced his displeasure with the happenings down at Florida State. He didn’t even bother to send just thoughts and prayers, wishing a quick conclusion to evacuations, and those affected to find care courtesy of the state.
Though Mosley was understandably sad and frustrated over the tragedy, he was able to see it for what it was—an opportunity to seek perspective. “This is the opportunity right now to talk about putting things in perspective,” he said. He implored attendees not to lose sight of the human element in any given circumstance. He stressed, “It’s just getting back to the human element in all that we do. Lives are at stake, and have been at stake.”
The Magic ended their practice day on a high note. After that, they were off and running into conversations about hoops in general and their impending matchup with the Celtics. The weight of the tragedy obviously weighed very heavily in their hearts and minds. More than anything else though, it was a jarring reminder of what’s really important.
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