MIAMI – Meyers Leonard is getting another chance in the NBA nearly two years after he used an anti-Semitic slur while playing a video game that was being streamed live.
A person with knowledge of the negotiations said Leonard and the Milwaukee Bucks agreed to a 10-day contract that opened the door for the 7-foot center to play in an NBA game for the first time since January 2021 . The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity as the deal had not been announced.
ESPN first reported on the agreement between Leonard and the Bucks.
Leonard’s career was in jeopardy and his reputation was seriously damaged on March 8, 2021 when it was discovered he was using a bow while playing an online game while others were watching on a live stream. The Heat told him to stay away from the team indefinitely, NBA commissioner Adam Silver fined him $50,000, and Miami eventually traded him to Oklahoma City.
Leonard then said that he knew he used a bad term but was unaware of the meaning of the term. In an apology, he said, “My ignorance of his story and how offensive it is to the Jewish community is absolutely no excuse and I was simply wrong.” He immediately began meeting with Holocaust survivors, South Florida rabbis and other community leaders to plan.
That was the start of which he spent much of the last two years trying to atone for what he had done – almost all quietly, in a conscious attempt to suppress any notion that his work was only was done to get positive media coverage. He has spoken and worked with several Jewish groups on various matters, hosted a number of basketball camps for Jewish children, and has apologized countless times for what he said and his ignorance of the meaning of the term.
Leonard would not play again for the remainder of the 2020-21 season after sustaining a shoulder injury in January 2021, two months before the incident. He has since dealt with ankle and other issues but has been working on an NBA return for months.
For the Bucks, the move poses almost no risk. They have 10 days to see if Leonard – who was with Miami for the run to the 2020 NBA Finals in the restart bubble at Walt Disney World – can help with their playoff push.
Most players and coaches chose to kneel in this bubble to play the national anthems of the US and Canada when the NBA season resumed there. Leonard stood instead, his hand on his heart, and did so with the support of Heat teammates.
“I’m a compassionate person and I really love all people,” Leonard told The Associated Press at the time.
For his career, Leonard has averaged 5.6 points and 3.9 rebounds on 48% shooting, 39% from 3-point range.
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, transcribed or redistributed without permission.
