Former NBA draft first-round pick Myers Leonard, who has not played in the league since 2021 after using anti-Semitic slurs during a video game livestream, told ESPN he was “excusing” what he did. No,’ but he said he would. Play in the NBA again.
“I feel like I’m living in a bad dream,” Leonard said in an interview aired on Tuesday. I know what you did
Leonard last played in the NBA in January 2021. In March 2021, he was suspended for using an anti-Semitic slur while playing a video of his game during a live stream. He said he underwent surgery on his ankle in April 2021 and suffered nerve damage as a result of the surgery.
He spent time rehabilitating shoulder and ankle surgeries over the past two seasons while away from professional basketball.
Leonard is averaging 5.6 points and 3.9 rebounds in 447 NBA games. He also said that during his 2019-20 season, which was postponed due to COVID-19, teammates stood on their knees during the national anthem at his bubble to draw attention to the issue of police brutality. I got notoriety for being there.
He later wrote in ESPN’s Andscape article that he supported the military (his brother served in Afghanistan) and people of color after the killing of George Floyd and the shooting of Jacob Blake in 2020. “I feel pain in my heart,” he said.
Leonard, now 30, recently trained with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Leonard told Sharp he was unaware of the history or implications of the anti-Semitic slurs he used, but said, “The language used in the vast majority of video games is less than ideal.” .
He added: “There are no excuses for what happened that day and sadly ignorance is very real….I’m running away from this.” No, but I didn’t know it happened.”
According to the Anti-Defamation League, the United States will hit a record 2,717 anti-Semitic incidents in 2021. This is an average of more than 7 cases per day for him, up 34% year-on-year. This is the largest number on record since the ADL began tracking anti-Semitic cases in his 1979.
Leonard apologized on Instagram after the slander was made public and was suspended by the NBA for a week. He was also fined $50,000. The week after the incident, Miami traded him to Oklahoma City, who subsequently released him.
“To be honest, I felt like I destroyed my life and everything I had worked for,” he told Schaap. “…I think people had every right to speculate about me.” People have had to comment on this in the media, and I understand.
“I said, you better handle this and show people what’s on your mind.
“I thought it would be easier to die than deal with what just happened because I want people to like me. I don’t hate anyone. I would never intentionally hurt anyone.”
Asked by Leonard Kyrie Irvingtweeted and posted an Instagram story containing a link to a 2018 film on Amazon described as containing anti-Semitic disinformation.
“I can only speak for myself, but what I’m saying is that anti-Semitism is very real and more people need to be educated and understand everything. … about the history of what happened.
Leonard continues: , to say sorry and heal for what ever happened. ”
NBA spokesman Mike Bass said, “Since using derogatory and unacceptable language in 2021, Myers Leonard has been held accountable and has taken considerable time to understand the ramifications of his comments. He has met with many leaders in the Jewish community, educated himself by participating in community programs, and used his platform to share his learning with others. I shared it with others.”
Specifically, Leonard pointed out that he sought counseling from two South Florida rabbis. He also met frequently with Jewish organizations and said he learned more about anti-Semitism.
But he knows he’ll be known for what he’s done, and he’ll have to deal with that if he returns to the NBA court.
“I would be a little bit scared of what someone would say to me, what the fans would say,” he told Schaap. “But I always come back to this. Don’t give up. You’re good.” If you are a person and work hard, life will get better and I truly believe that.”
