Meyers Leonard signing a 10-day contract with the Milwaukee Bucks
Meyers Leonard will be getting a shot at restarting his stalled NBA career as he is set to sign a 10-day contract with the Milwaukee Bucks. This marks the first time that the 30-year-old center from Robinson, Illinois, will be playing in the NBA after getting released by the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2021.
Another chance
The versatile 7-foot-1 center last played for the Miami Heat, where he was a full-time starter. Although his numbers did not stand out, he was a vital piece in the Heat's rotation. However, all that ended in March 2021 when he used an antisemitic slur while playing the video game "Call of Duty" on Twitch. The NBA also came down hard on Leonard, fining him $50,000 and suspending him for a week.
Less than two weeks after the incident, the Heat traded Leonard to the Thunder, which then released him on March 25. He has been a free agent ever since. In an interview with ESPN's Jeremy Schaap on Outside the Lines, Leonard was deeply remorseful for the incident.
“There are absolutely no excuses for what happened that day,” Leonard said. “Ignorance is sadly a very real thing, and that’s what I was. I’m not running from this, but I did not know that it happened.”
Stretch four
Leonard's arrival comes at a crucial time for the Bucks. On Monday, the team received news that superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo had suffered a sprained ligament in his wrist which would need treatment. It remains unclear whether Giannis would miss games or how many, but Leonard's arrival gives them a buffer.
Leonard brings a skillset similar to Lopez's minus the excellent shot-blocking. While a dismal rebounder or paint protector for a player of his size, Leonard makes up for it by shooting 39% from beyond the arc.
