Meyers Leonard Does Segment on ESPN About Him Using an Antisemitic Slur

[Thabo Sefolosha]

Watch on YouTube

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/35563969/meyers-leonard-seeks-return-nba-post-antisemitic-slur

Leonard told Schaap that he did not know the history or meaning of the antisemitic slur he used, but said "there's less than ideal language used in a large portion of video gaming."

He added: "There are absolutely no excuses for what happened that day. And ignorance, sadly, is a very real thing. ... I am not running from this, but I did not know that it happened."

"I felt like I had just destroyed my life and everything that I worked for, to be honest," he told Schaap. "... People had every right to, I suppose, make assumptions about me. People were going to have to, in the media, comment on this. And I understand, I do.

"I said, you better go handle this and to show people what's in your heart."

He added: "I thought that it'd be easier to be dead than it would be to deal with what had just happened, because I want everyone to like me. I don't hate anybody. I would never intentionally hurt anybody."

"I'll be a little scared of what someone might say to me, what a fan might say," he told Schaap. "But I always come back to this: Don't give up. If you're a good person and you work hard, things are going to work out in life. And I wholeheartedly believe that."

[WillyJakkz]

I believe he apologized etc. Time's passed so we will see if he actually changed.

Time to move forward.

[The High Cyde]

He was barely hanging on to the league when there weren’t any issues, it’ll be even tougher now, but I believe he deserves a second chance if he’s truly sorry and has made up for it in the community.

[twozeroMM]

Hats off to Meyers, he’s gone above and beyond in making things right.

[Clay Davis]

Do you guys think any teams will take a chance on him? Anti semetic rhetoric has gotten ridiculous lately and unfortunately, enforcing whatever penalties it is due always result in backlash against the Jewish community. Very sad times. Good to see Meyers not making excuses for himself though, that in itself is a boon.


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[baldur]

After that, he became a Jewish community ambassador. The guy just said a word in an intense moment by just mistake and ever since he has been living like sentenced to be a Jewish and has been living like a Jewish person.

The guy's basketball iq was problematic but his normal iq is problematic too obviously.

[JRoy]

People need thicker skins.

[DonaldSanders]

I think he's done plenty to deserve another chance, the question is whether he currently has enough juice on the court for it to be worth it for teams. Unfortunately time away from the league is generally unkind to players, and he's now 30.

[blueNorange]

People need thicker skins.

you seem sensitive to people rightfully taking words personally.

take your own advice, champ.

[Dominator83]

He should get a vet min from someone that needs a big body to eat 15-20 mins

[og15]

How healthy is he now? Could still be better then having DeAndre Jordan as your backup C, or not...

[bballfan1three3]

Any relation to NBA player Kawhi Leonard?

[Bologna Smasher]

Never cared for Leonard as a player, but he should be allowed to have a second chance whether it be in the NBA or elsewhere (likely the case). The whole situation was a bit ridiculous to me. Anybody who plays online games like that knows the sort of language that gets tossed around. Being blackballed for something a large portion of the population does in private is kind of messed up. I guess that was his problem, keep your racist remarks in the dark! Doesn't make what he said any better, but the double standard is ridiculous.

[Capn'O]

I have no ill will towards Leonard, but as others have said teams aren't exactly clamoring for his services irregardless. He was kind of a marginal player at the time who had an unfortunate injury and then did... that... and then had further injury complications. Now it's two years later and he's on the wrong side of 30. So from an ethical standpoint, does he deserve another chance? Sure. But from a basketball standpoint it's not likely he gets one.

[Lockdown504090]

100. if hes good enough at this point, i think a team will sign him. The lakers worked him out.

[SlovenianDragon]

If he was a talent like Kyrie or Edwards he would still be in the league.

Thats the hold up...not what he said.

Should go make a nice living overseas and forget about the whole thing.

[Statlanta]

He's done. There's no reason to play him if you've been out of the game for this long. He probably might be worse than guys like Dwight and Cousins.

[FlyingArrow]

If he was a talent like Kyrie or Edwards he would still be in the league.

Thats the hold up...not what he said.

Should go make a nice living overseas and forget about the whole thing.

Quite true.

I remember hearing this story a long time ago, and whatever word he said... it was a word that I did not know was an antisemitic slur until I was well into my 20s. (Maybe because I don't hang out with anti-semites to ever hear the word?) I didn't hear the word often, but for a long time I thought it was just a harsher word that meant "jerk".

[JRoy]

People need thicker skins.

you seem sensitive to people rightfully taking words personally.

take your own advice, champ.

Lol.

What happened to sticks and stones?

[Johnny Bball]

The truth is... he's just not that good. That's how fine the line is between playing in the NBA and not being worth it.