Jonathan Isaac cites Tyreek Hill's detainment while dishing controversial advice: "This should be shown to every Black boy"
Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac had a controversial response to the body cam footage of Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill’s detainment on Sunday. He criticized Hill's reaction and said it was an example of how not to behave during a police stop.
Hill was stopped and briefly detained by police just hours before the Dolphins’ season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The incident took place outside Hard Rock Stadium when Hill was pulled over for a traffic violation and later cited for reckless driving and driving without a license.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Jonathan Isaac expressed relief that the situation ended without further conflict but remarked that Hill's behavior was not a positive example for Black individuals.
“All love to Hill, thank God the situation ended peacefully… but this should be shown to every black boy on how not to act when being pulled over, respectfully,” Isaac said.
Jonathan Isaac commented that it's immature for Black men to place their lives in the hands of officers in such a manner and labeled the situation a poor example for both Hill and the officers involved.
“It’s immature as black men to put our lives in the hands of officers in this way! Especially when you’re of his caliber. Neither side has an obligation to be nice… but 9.99 times out of 10 you gone get what you give with LE (law enforcement). especially when you’re being pulled over for a valid reason,” he said.
“That’s fair… There are unjust exceptions/escalations of course 🙏🏽 This wasn’t anyone’s best moment on both sides. A nothing burger imo,” he added.
Bodycam footage revealed Hill being handcuffed and placed on the ground by officers. One officer instructed Hill, “when we tell you to do something, you do it.”
As he was moved to the sidewalk, one officer placed an arm around Hill’s neck and forced him to the ground while Hill repeatedly said that he had recently undergone knee surgery.
Following the incident, Hill told NBC News he felt fortunate to be Tyreek Hill.
"If I wasn't Tyreek Hill, lord knows, I probably would have been like, worst-case scenario, I would have been shot or would have been locked up" and "put behind bars, you know, for a simple speeding ticket," Hill said.
Jonathan Isaac explains not wearing Black Lives Matter shirt during NBA bubble season
Social justice has been one of the NBA's focuses since its COVID-19 pause. During the bubble season, players knelt for the national anthem and wore Black Lives Matter shirts in the aftermath of the George Floyd incident, except for Jonathan Isaac.
Jonathan Isaac later explained his choice, saying per Fox News:
"I believe that Black Lives Matter. A lot went into my decision, and part of it is, I thought that kneeling or wearing the Black Lives Matter t-shirt doesn't go hand-in-hand with supporting Black lives.
“So I felt like, just me personally, what is that I believe is taking 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 and kneeling went hand in hand with supporting Black lives.”
Kneeling during the anthem is a protest against police brutality initiated by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.