Meyers Leonard is getting one other probability on the NBA, practically two years after he used an antisemitic slur whereas taking part in a online game that was being livestreamed.
An individual with data of the negotiations mentioned Leonard and the Milwaukee Bucks have agreed on a 10-day contract, opening the door for the 7-foot centre to play in an NBA recreation for the primary time since January 2021. The particular person spoke to The Associated Press on situation of anonymity as a result of the deal had not been introduced.
ESPN first reported the settlement between Leonard and the Bucks.
Leonard’s profession was jeopardized and his popularity was severely broken on March 8, 2021, when it was found that he used a slur whereas taking part in a web-based recreation as others watched on a livestream. The Heat informed him to steer clear of the group indefinitely, NBA commissioner Adam Silver fined him $50,000 US and Miami ultimately traded him to Oklahoma City.
Leonard mentioned then that he knew he’d used a nasty time period, however was unaware of the time period’s which means. In an apology, he mentioned “my ignorance about its historical past and the way offensive it’s to the Jewish group is completely not an excuse and I used to be simply improper.” He instantly started scheduling conferences with Holocaust survivors, rabbis in South Florida and different group leaders.
That was the beginning of him spending a lot of the final two years making an attempt to atone for what he did — nearly all of it quietly, in a deliberate effort to quash any notion his work was merely completed to get constructive media protection. He has spoken and labored with a number of Jewish teams on varied issues, placed on quite a few basketball camps for Jewish youngsters and apologized numerous occasions for what he mentioned and his ignorance about what the time period meant.
Leonard was not going to play within the the rest of that 2020-21 season after struggling a shoulder harm in January of 2021, two months earlier than the incident. He has since handled ankle and different points, however has been working towards an NBA return for months.
For the Bucks, the transfer carries nearly no threat. They’ll get 10 days to see if Leonard — who was with Miami for its run to the 2020 NBA Finals within the restart bubble at Walt Disney World — may help with their playoff push.
Most gamers and coaches selected to kneel in that bubble for the taking part in of the U.S. and Canadian nationwide anthems when the NBA season resumed there. Leonard stood as a substitute, his hand over his coronary heart, and did so with the assist of Heat teammates.
“I’m a compassionate human being and I really love all individuals,” Leonard informed The Associated Press on the time.
For his profession, Leonard has averaged 5.6 factors and three.9 rebounds on 48 per cent taking pictures, 39 per cent from 3-point vary.
