” This unfortunate incident was most certainly the most difficult moment of my life. In March 2021, Meyers Leonard found himself at the heart of a big storm for having used an anti-Semitic slur while playing video games, on a live Twitch. Suspended, dismissed by the Heat, transferred to the Thunder then cut… The interior experienced a lightning descent into hell.
Nearly a year after these events, the 11th choice of the 2012 Draft has still not found an NBA contract, but he is continuing his journey with a view to emerging from this “unfortunate incident”.
A simple sin of ignorance?
In an attempt to explain his slippage, Meyers Leonard, to whom the Chicago Tribune devotes a long paper to this work, highlights in particular his ignorance and his lack of culture. The interested party is from a small town in Illinois, of less than 8,000 inhabitants.
” A very small area with very endearing, very hard-working, blue-collar people. But I haven’t been exposed to a lot of cultures, different religions. I just wasn’t. Does that make me a bad person? No. Did I sin out of ignorance? Yes “, assures the former player of the Blazers.
280 characters wasn’t enough for me to express my gratitude for the Jewish community. The first picture says it all. Thank you for the Love, Compassion and Grace. 🥲🙏🏼❤️ pic.twitter.com/d3yyT77Sgg
— Meyers Leonard (@MeyersLeonard) October 24, 2021
He therefore wanted to correct the situation since then. In contact with a rabbi, who agreed to meet him barely two days after his controversial exit, Meyers Leonard learned a lot about the customs of the Jewish community. He organized basketball camps and events for Jewish children, distributed meals to families, visited a Holocaust museum and met Holocaust survivors.
So many experiences which, according to him, helped him to understand the seriousness of his words. A good way also for the basketball player to turn the page on a difficult event. The 29-year-old interior has not forgotten the death and rape threats to which his wife has been subjected. ” I’ll be honest, there was a 24 hour period where I had to send her home because of the death threats and stuff.“
Any NBA teams still interested?
Meyers Leonard now intends to fight against anti-Semitism. ” I feel pretty good about the people I’ve helped and will continue to help until my last breath. […] How to fight anti-Semitism, what do we say, what do we do? What about a guy who’s been in the league for nine years (note: himself), someone with integrity (but) who makes a stupid mistake? Anti-Semitism is a real and growing phenomenon. I’am aware. I focus on that.“
If he evokes a long-term fight, the interior, operated on the shoulder last year, does not intend to give up on the big league. ” As everyone knows, there are a lot of NBA teams that want me and could play for right now, but I’m just not healthy enough. Did the incident help my case? No. But has this time helped me heal? Yes.“
