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.
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.No idea, but interesting to read the player news on him. Didn't realize he was in hot water for saying something offensive on a livestream. Says he was fined $50k in March for a slur. Also says he had shoulder surgery a month before and his season was over anyway. Seems like it could have been an excuse to dump him, but I'm a cynic when it comes to how these organizations behave and their true motivations. FWLIW, news said he apologized and was volunteering at a Jewish center. No idea if that even matters to employers in this day and age the way people focus their outrage. That's the way it goes in the entertainment industry, though.
If he never plays again, you'd think he'd be just fine given his 9 seasons in the league, and lottery pick coming out of college. Really enjoyed watching him at Illinois. Great athlete and defender in the paint. Felt like a lot of players were afraid to drive on him.
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.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.
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.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.
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.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.
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.
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.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.
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. . .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.
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.
You both just proved Calvin's point.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. . .
Here's his statement: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/
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.You both just proved Calvin's point.
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.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.
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.Didn't play much I recall afterwards, beginning of his end it seems. Possibly grief was wrong wording but wasn't received positively. If I recall he got much more pt during season.
Didn't play much I recall afterwards, beginning of his end it seems. Possibly grief was wrong wording but wasn't received positively. If I recall he got much more pt during season.
Don’t forget he also married rich, so he will be fine.No idea, but interesting to read the player news on him. Didn't realize he was in hot water for saying something offensive on a livestream. Says he was fined $50k in March for a slur. Also says he had shoulder surgery a month before and his season was over anyway. Seems like it could have been an excuse to dump him, but I'm a cynic when it comes to how these organizations behave and their true motivations. FWLIW, news said he apologized and was volunteering at a Jewish center. No idea if that even matters to employers in this day and age the way people focus their outrage. That's the way it goes in the entertainment industry, though.
If he never plays again, you'd think he'd be just fine given his 9 seasons in the league, and lottery pick coming out of college. Really enjoyed watching him at Illinois. Great athlete and defender in the paint. Felt like a lot of players were afraid to drive on him.
Sprewell also choked his coach earlier.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.
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.Sprewell also choked his coach earlier.