Leonard can still play. He is a very good back up big. He is a great guy. He said something very stupid but is actually a top notch guy. I hope he gets one more chance.
Meyers Leonard
Homecoming 2019
- Chicago
So many talented players on that 2011-12 team when he was a sophomore, super frustrating season to watch. Meyers always got on my nerves due to how lax he seemed on the court at all times. He was capable of a lot more than he showed on gameday. Same probably goes for his NBA career, plays his best basketball in the playoffs, but can't seem to get the same energy throughout the regular season.
Lot of good guys NBA teams can sign that haven't don't have video all over the internet of them shouting an anti-Semitic slur. I wish him the best but at this point in his career what he offers NBA teams isn't worth the baggage. If he wants to continue his career, I think he should be able to make quite a bit abroad.
Tacomallini
- Washington State
What did Meyers Leonard say that was anti-Semitic?
NBA player Meyers Leonard came under fire for using an anti-Semitic slur while playing a video game during a live stream. Leonard, 29, was playing Call Of Duty on his Twitch streaming session on Tu…
www.the-sun.com
As baggage goes, that's pretty light. He's otherwise known as a great locker room guy, so it's hard to imagine a single instance of using that pejorative is the cause of sinking his career. I would say his ever-decreasing playing time with the Heat his last season and what may be an ongoing shoulder issue has more to do with the fact he hasn't signed with anyone to date.
I agree. If he was a star player in his mid 20s he'd be on a team. If he was a role player at his current age of 29 with his injury history, but without this baggage he probably could have found himself a team. But the combination of his limited role, age, injury history, and this incident is probably just not a combination that makes him appealing to NBA front offices. As evidenced by the fact he is not on a team, even for a training camp invite.
He also was given much grief over him standing for the anthem during season in the bubble. His brother is a military man, I understand his reasons. It was unfair.
LaTulip should start recruiting him for TBT, lol.
No matter what his intent, there are people who will get upset and turn on him --that's politics. Not sure how to avoid it either, given how a lot of people will get upset if you say you don't want to speak out or choose a side. Tolerance, charity, and forgiveness just aren't part of the current zeitgeist.
Homecoming 2019
- Chicago
People are just taking a hard stance against racism since it's been allowed to fester and grow over the years. People are done ignoring it, remove it from your vocabulary or accept the consequences.
lol, right. we should show, uh, tolerance, to, erm, a big dumb white kid from the midwest, for, uhh, using, oh, one of the worst epithets out there. . .
the things one reads on sports message boards. . .
You both just proved Calvin's point.
KrushCow31
Former Krush Cow
- Chicago, IL
Meyers actually posted last month on Instagram for the first time in almost half a year highlighting his growth and journey with the Jewish community since the slur was used, as well as who he has worked with including the ADL, etc. Worth looking at, and I don't see the benefit of holding it against him further. https://www.instagram.com/p/CSx06lwDNVO/
Tacomallini
- Washington State
Here's his statement:
Over the last five months, I have immersed myself in the process of learning about the Jewish community. This was not something prescribed or forced upon me. It’s something that I felt and knew in my heart was right to do, which is why, I chose to do it privately.
Having the ability to learn about one another is not a form of punishment, it is a gift. Our differences aren’t what divide us, it’s our lack of understanding that does.
I’ve been very fortunate to have had so many real and honest conversations with Jewish friends and leaders about the beliefs, history, and challenges faced and still facing the Jewish community. Listening to the first-hand experiences of how antisemitic views and actions have been weaponized over and over again throughout history and still persist today is troubling. I’m committed to being an ally.
A true mistake and extreme ignorance is how this all began for me, but growing from this is a part of the journey. Again, I’d like to say how truly sorry I am to those who were hurt by my word. I take full ownership of my ignorance and will continue to do better through my actions. I’d also like to say how grateful I am for all of the love, compassion, and forgiveness that the Jewish community has graciously shown me. To the ADL, thank you for working with me over this time and allowing me an opportunity to use my words as part of the solution on your “Fighting Hate From Home” panel today. To Rabbi Pinny, Rabbi Goldberg, Steve Stowe, Matthew Hiltzik & Michael Goldberg, MBJCC and the countless others who have spent hours and hours over Shabbat dinners, lunch, phone calls and time in each other’s homes - THANK YOU. It’s with your grace that I know my future actions will always be louder than this one incident.
Homecoming 2019
- Chicago
Exactly. I'm also taking exception with "that's politics", no it isn't, it's racism. It's a step in the right direction that Meyers seems to understand that now.
Last edited:
Was he getting grief? From what I recall it was a conversation amongst him and his teammates for why he chose to stand and they chose to kneel and that was that.
I don't think the not standing thing had anything to do with his play time. He had missed a bunch of time due to an ankle injury prior to the Covid pause and hadn't come back yet. The media coverage around it that I've seen was eother neutral or positive, and then the team re-signed him to a 2-year deal in November 2020. His shoulder derailed his career and then his use of a racial slur made a comeback unlikely. That's the story.
He also wasn’t a good matchup for Anthony Davis at the 5, particularly with Bam on the roster.
The heat played the most zone in the league that year and I thought they’d play more in the finals because the lakers were a streaky shooting team. For whatever reason they did not. I think that was the safest way for them to use Meyers defensively, and when they didn’t, that was that.
Last edited:
Don’t forget he also married rich, so he will be fine.
Latrell Sprewell was ousted from the NBA after saying he had mouths to feed when holding out for more money.
These guys need to know it’s a privilege to have such a career.
I really like Myers Leonard. He comes from a little town around 30 miles from me. He is a good guy. He is not a racist but sure used a racist slur/slang. I wish the league would forgive him. I'm concerned about him and wish this hadn't happened. Hope he gets to finish out his career in the NBA and play another 2-5 years as a solid backup big man.
Sprewell also choked his coach earlier.
Not super relevant because 1. Sprewell played in the league for another 8 years after that incident and 2. He was averaging 24 ppg around the time that happened, while Meyers Leonard was averaging about 6 ppg the last couple seasons he was able to play regularly, and then had major injury problems. Like it or not, the number of chances you get depends on how valuable a player you are.