Latest news with #UNITUS
Fox News
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
The Quiz #483
Red and blue are two primary colors. What's the third? Play. Share. Listen with Orlando Magic forward & founder of UNITUS, Jonathan Isaac .
Fox News
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
The Quiz #465
Who was the Yankees' manager the last time they won a World Series? Play. Share. Listen with Orlando Magic star & founder of UNITUS, Jonathan Isaac.
Fox News
04-06-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Magic's Jonathan Isaac details faith-based apparel line's origins and how he handles negative feedback
While many past and present NBA players are under contract with a major athletic footwear and sports apparel conglomerate, Jonathan Isaac wears his own brand when he steps on the basketball court. The Orlando Magic forward founded UNITUS, a faith-forward apparel brand. According to the company's official website, the brand goes beyond producing premium Christian clothing and footwear, it is "a global movement for positive change." "We believe Jesus offers our world a better way, and we boldly stand for our faith in Him. Our mission is to inspire and empower people to live in greater unity, freedom, strength, and purpose." "From its inception it's just been a vision of connecting people to Christ and each other… for it to be a real touchpoint for believers. To have something we are confident in (and) feel great about." Isaac cautioned that the company always tries to avoid forcing its values and beliefs on others. "We are not pushing that onto other people, it's more of an internal thing," he told Fox News Digital. "A big part about us is… you're wearing the Scripture on your shoes, on your clothes for you, to remind you of the bigger picture. And then to take that out (into) the world. Being able to take the word of God with me on the court when I'm wearing my basketball sneakers, it's the same thing… it's for me internally and at the same time, I get to use it as a witness in front of everybody else. It's just a medium to do that." Isaac admitted he ended up being "forced" into launching his own sneaker line. "I was signed to Nike back in 2020 and unfortunately, I got injured… I tore my ACL," Isaac told Fox News Digital. "Nike had made the decision not to resign me. While I'm going through my rehab process… I actually went and spoke to my pastor… and he told me 'Why don't you just make your own sneaker?'" Isaac's pastor then challenged him to be at the forefront for active NBA players in the independent sneaker line space. The 27-year-old said creating his own brand gave him creative autonomy. "With that freedom to make my own sneaker I could make it completely unique to myself. (I wanted to make) a shoe that demonstrates faith, demonstrates what's important to me. My middle name is Judah so we (call it) the Judah 1. And every shoe has a visible Bible verse on the outside, and that's how it started. And it went from that… to an entire brand set around that same sentiment of being able to take the word of God with you everywhere you go." Isaac has not shied away from speaking out about his beliefs. However, doing so can often result in backlash. Isaac said he does his best to filter out the negativity. "The biggest thing for me is spending as little time as I can on social media, especially on X. It gets crazy over there. But, it's tough (because) sports and a couple of other professions, nobody else in their regular life has as much feedback as we do because we're playing live, and now you've got the parlays and now you've got all that other stuff going on. "Once you play, you've got 50 (direct messages) of people saying 'Oh you messed up this' or 'You did great' or 'You didn't do great.' It's tough to deal with just as a regular human being. People forget that, people forget you're human, people forget you've got issues (and) you got through stuff just like everybody else." Isaac appeared in 71 games in the 2024-25 NBA season. Beginning in early June, customers will be able to purchase UNITUS' new activewear line. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Fox News
03-06-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Magic's Jonathan Isaac details faith-based apparel line's origins and how it handles negative feedback
While many past and present NBA players are under contract with a major athletic footwear and sports apparel conglomerate, Jonathan Isaac wears his own brand when he steps on the basketball court. The Orlando Magic forward founded UNITUS, a faith-forward apparel brand. According to the company's official website, the brand goes beyond producing premium Christian clothing and footwear, it is "a global movement for positive change." "We believe Jesus offers our world a better way, and we boldly stand for our faith in Him. Our mission is to inspire and empower people to live in greater unity, freedom, strength, and purpose." "From its inception it's just been a vision of connecting people to Christ and each other… for it to be a real touchpoint for believers. To have something we are confident in (and) feel great about." Isaac cautioned that the company always tries to avoid forcing its values and beliefs on others. "We are not pushing that onto other people, it's more of an internal thing," he told Fox News Digital. "A big part about us is… you're wearing the Scripture on your shoes, on your clothes for you, to remind you of the bigger picture. And then to take that out (into) the world. Being able to take the word of God with me on the court when I'm wearing my basketball sneakers, it's the same thing… it's for me internally and at the same time, I get to use it as a witness in front of everybody else. It's just a medium to do that." Isaac admitted he ended up being "forced" into launching his own sneaker line. "I was signed to Nike back in 2020 and unfortunately, I got injured… I tore my ACL," Isaac told Fox News Digital. "Nike had made the decision not to resign me. While I'm going through my rehab process… I actually went and spoke to my pastor… and he told me 'Why don't you just make your own sneaker?'" Isaac's pastor then challenged him to be at the forefront for active NBA players in the independent sneaker line space. The 27-year-old said creating his own brand gave him creative autonomy. "With that freedom to make my own sneaker I could make it completely unique to myself. (I wanted to make) a shoe that demonstrates faith, demonstrates what's important to me. My middle name is Judah so we (call it) the Judah 1. And every shoe has a visible Bible verse on the outside, and that's how it started. And it went from that… to an entire brand set around that same sentiment of being able to take the word of God with you everywhere you go." Isaac has not shied away from speaking out about his beliefs. However, doing so can often result in backlash. Isaac said he does his best to filter out the negativity. "The biggest thing for me is spending as little time as I can on social media, especially on X. It gets crazy over there. But, it's tough (because) sports and a couple of other professions, nobody else in their regular life has as much feedback as we do because we're playing live, and now you've got the parlays and now you've got all that other stuff going on. "Once you play, you've got 50 (direct messages) of people saying 'Oh you messed up this' or 'You did great' or 'You didn't do great.' It's tough to deal with just as a regular human being. People forget that, people forget you're human, people forget you've got issues (and) you got through stuff just like everybody else." Isaac appeared in 71 games in the 2024-25 NBA season. Beginning in early June, customers will be able to purchase UNITUS' new activewear line. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Fox News
01-06-2025
- Health
- Fox News
'Men don't belong in women's sports,' NBA star believes amid debate over transgender athletes
The inclusion of transgender athletes has been hotly debated in the sports world and beyond. NBA star Jonathan Isaac has previously shared his thoughts on the topic. Last year, the Orlando Magic forward appeared to take particular issue with the White House's commemoration of "Transgender Day of Visibility." Events at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue took place on March 31, the same day as 2024 Easter Sunday. Isaac has a faith-based sports apparel and shoe line called "UNITUS" and he often pubically discusses his Christian conviction. "They want you to hate! This helps no one and only promotes division," he wrote. "They know exactly what they are doing.. we should be angry but shouldn't lose the spirit of what tomorrow means! Don't lose focus. Because He is risen there is hope for all." In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, Isaac further explained his stance on transgender athletes' eligibility in girls' and women's sports. "It's just a tough situation. There's an ethic… there's something that I believe is true. I believe that men and women are different. I believe that men do not belong in women's sports, that's a fundamental belief I hold. For reasons, one I'm a guy and I can understand the difference and the advantages that we have," Isaac said. "But at the same time there is a reality of the situation… there are people who are not in sports who are transgender (who) are trying to live their life the best way they know how. And they have this feeling of what they believe is right and who else is to say they are wrong in some sense." Isaac acknowledged the humanity of the complex situation, but said his belief in the fundamental differences between men and women ultimately prompted him to draw a line in the sand. "But where I stake my flag is, I believe that in order to cater to the feelings of this group, I would have to trample on the feelings of women to get there. And that's where I say, 'OK, that's where I believe this is wrong' and I would be willing to put my voice to it. I understand the humanity of the situation. I feel for the humanity of the situation. But at the end of the day, I believe it's right to stand on the truth of men and women are different. And I wouldn't want my daughter to have to compete against a transgender athlete (who) has gone through puberty or has testosterone." Isaac shares two daughters with his wife. Shortly after President Donald Trump's second term began, he signed an executive order effectively banning transgender athletes from participating in girls' and women's sports. The executive order, "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports," was based on Title IX, part of a civil rights law passed in 1972 that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded education programs. The order instructed the Department of Education to investigate academic institutions that failed to comply. If a school is deemed to be in noncompliance, federal funds could be withdrawn. Elsewhere, the International Olympic Committee has decided to allow global federations that govern a variety of sports to create their respective eligibility rules. Under Trump's executive order, the State Department is instructed to demand changes within the committee. The NCAA reacted to the executive order by introducing a sweeping new policy. The organization's updated participation policy, which was announced in February, stated that only "student-athletes assigned female at birth" will be allowed to take part in intercollegiate athletic competitions. The latest policy does permit "student-athletes assigned male at birth to practice with women's teams and receive benefits like medical care." However, those athletes are banned from any NCAA-sanctioned competitions. In December 2024, NCAA President Charlie Baker told a Senate committee there were "less than 10" transgender college student athletes he was aware of at the time. Baker, who was the Republican governor of Massachusetts from 2015-2023, also confirmed that there are roughly "five hundred and ten thousand" athletes enrolled in more than 1,000 colleges and universities across all 50 states that the NCAA oversees. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
