Bucks’ Meyers Leonard Says Antisemitic Slur Was ‘Biggest Mistake’ of Life

The veteran big man is getting a second chance at his NBA career on a 10-day deal with Milwaukee.

Meyers Leonard signed a 10-day contract with the Bucks earlier this week, giving the center an opportunity to return to the league. He has not played in an NBA game since 2021, when he was suspended after using an antisemitic slur during a video game livestream.

Following practice Thursday night, Leonard addressed the incident with the media for the first time since returning to the NBA.

“It’s a mixed bag of emotions for sure,” Leonard said, per The Athletic. “It’s certainly the hardest two-year stretch I’ve ever had in my life, as an adult, as a man. The truth is, let’s cut to it, I made a really big mistake. The biggest mistake of my life. It was an extremely difficult time because, first of all, just let me say to anybody who’s listening, I’m incredibly sorry. It was an ignorant mistake.

“But if anyone has followed what I’ve been up to off the floor in the Jewish community, I think they’ll see pretty clear that I’ve tried to go above and beyond to show my heart and who I am, that I’m very remorseful. I want to make it right day after day, week after week, coming up on two years since the mistake happened. I’ve learned so much about myself as a man, about the Jewish community, just maturing in general.”

During the video game stream, Leonard said, “F------ cowards, don’t f------ snipe at me you f------ k--- b----.”

Leonard, now 30, was fined $50,000 by the NBA and suspended from team activities for a week at the time of the incident. He was also required to participate in a cultural diversity program. The Heat traded Leonard to the Thunder, but Oklahoma City released him before the end of March 2021. 

He remained a free agent until earlier this week when he signed with Milwaukee.