My favorite Blazers
Meyers Leonard
(Editor’s note: My first season covering the Trail Blazers was 1989-90. Much time has passed, and many players have donned the Portland uniform since that time. We’ll run an occasional column in this space about some the players I’ve enjoyed getting to know.)
Meyers Leonard’s world went dark on March 9, 2021, when the Miami Heat suspended him indefinitely for use of an anti-Semitic slur while playing a video game on the streaming platform “Twitch.”
The 7-foot center/stretch forward was in his second season with the Heat — on the injured list after undergoing shoulder surgery — after seven seasons with the Trail Blazers when the incident occurred. Leonard immediately apologized and said he didn’t know what the word meant.
The NBA fined him $50,000 and suspended him for a week. The Heat subsequently traded him to Oklahoma City, which released him. From that point, Leonard was basically blackballed in the league for the next two years.
He made his return to pro basketball in February when the Milwaukee Bucks signed him to a pair of 10-day contracts, then to a deal for the rest of the season. Leonard played in nine regular-season and two playoff games for the Bucks.
Meyers Leonard during the 2022-23 NBA season
I don’t know what the future holds for Leonard, now 31. I do know that I consider him one of the best people to come through the Blazer locker room in the 30 years I covered the team. I wrote a couple of in-depth takeouts on Leonard, and also interviewed him for what was the longest — 57 minutes — of an 18-month series of podcasts for the Portland Tribune. He is a genuine, sincere guy who wants to make the world a better place.
Meyers’ father, a golf pro, was killed when Meyers was six. His mother, Tracie, raised Meyers and his older brother Bailey in rural Robinson, Ill. Sometimes there was little food, no running water and scant furniture, and the family made frequent moves from place to place. Bailey became a Marine and did two tours of Afghanistan. Meyers, a giant of a young man, turned to basketball.
His problem was he was taken by Portland with the 11th pick of the 2012 draft — five spots behind Damian Lillard. Dame blew up, as both a player and a beloved personality in the community. Leonard, raw after just two seasons — and really, one in which he played reasonable minutes — at Illinois, had his moments, but often struggled. His third season, 2014-15, he had a rare 50/40/80 season, shooting .510 from the field, .420 from 3-point range and .938 (a remarkable 30 for 32) from the foul line while playing only 15.4 minutes in 55 games.
But more often, he was inconsistent, suffering from injuries and confidence issues. He never seemed to gain trust from Coach Terry Stotts, and during his fifth season (2016-17) played poorly enough to draw some boos from home fans, along with plenty of criticism from social media trolls. It caused him to go into a shell, turning only to wife Elle, who calls Meyers “the most pure-hearted person I’ve ever met.”
In an interview after that season, Leonard told me, “What I truly live for is impacting people, making a difference in the world, starting a family and raising the kids to be good young men or women.”
Talk-show host Chad Doing was one of those critics, and early during his time in Miami, Leonard finally tweeted criticism back. Shortly thereafter, Chad’s son Isaac — who is autistic — underwent brain surgery. Someone tipped off Leonard. He tweeted a video wishing Isaac happy birthday, encouraging him to make a full recovery, and also sent an autographed Heat jersey. I’m not sure what Chad thinks of Meyers the player now, but I know he respects Meyers the person.
Leonard’s clothing line is called “Meyers Leonard Brand.” He once sold hoodies with “Love and Loyalty” inscribed on the back. “Those are the two words that mean the most in my life,” he said. Maybe that’s corny, but it’s authentic.
Since the video-game episode, Leonard has worked with several Jewish organizations and leaders and participated in community programs. He sought counseling from two rabbis in South Florida. He did what he could to make amends, to become more aware.
As for raising kids to be good young men or women, he is getting the chance. In June 2022, Meyers and Leonard brought son Liam into the world.
Before I give up this website, I’ll do another interview with Meyers. Of maybe a podcast. It will be fun to catch up with a guy who gave his all to be a good representative of the Blazers and help them win. Whether or not he reached all of his goals as a basketball player, I’m sure he is a good husband, and I’ll bet he will be a great father.
► ◄
Readers: what are your thoughts? I would love to hear them in the comments below. On the comments entry screen, only your name is required, your email address and website are optional, and may be left blank.
Follow me on Twitter.
Like me on Facebook.
Find me on Instagram.
Be sure to sign up for my emails.
