After two years away from the league, Meyers Leonard is about to return to the courts. Still, the power winger wasn’t sure he’d ever find a spot in the NBA again, given how he’d been sidelined. The athlete, who signed a 10-day contract with the Milwaukee Bucks, is grateful to get a second chance.
Leonard has not been seen on the field since January 2021. Recovering from shoulder surgery, the Heat player uttered an anti-Semitic slur during a live Twitch. The NBA and Miami immediately condemned his remarks and acted accordingly. Dismissed from the team, transferred, then cut, his future in high-level sport was in jeopardy.
During this absence, the athlete claims to have worked a lot on himself and his behavior. Above all, he has invested a lot in the Jewish community to try to make amends.
“It would have been cowardly to run away and say I made enough money. I want to start my life somewhere else. I felt I owed it to everyone who believed in me, my family, my son and to do things right”he testifies.
Today, Meyers Leonard feels “almost euphoric” to resume training. “Giving me a chance like that takes a lot of courage”, does he acknowledge. Indeed, the signature of the interior is obviously not unanimous in view of his actions.
The athlete does not forget his fault, for which he has repeatedly apologized. He intends to continue to testify of his repentance to the Jewish community of Milwaukee: “It’s part of me, I won’t stop”.
“Meyers has been truly diligent and conscientious in his engagement with the Jewish community, recognizing that there is no room for anti-Semitism or anti-Semitic slurs or any type of hate speech. The sincerity with which he spoke about it with us, he spoke about it publicly”underlines Mike Budenholzer, the coach of the team.
Meyers Leonard may be able to play the Bucks’ next game this Friday, against the Heat. Beyond the moral question, however, doubts remain about his level of performance after such a long absence. This signing is for him a first step towards his reintegration into the league, but his place is still not guaranteed.
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