Meyers Leonard signing a 10-day contract with the Milwaukee Bucks

Meyers Leonard gets another shot at an NBA career with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Meyers Leonard signing a 10-day contract with the Milwaukee Bucks
Meyers Leonard signing a 10-day contract with the Milwaukee Bucks /
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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.


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Matthew Dugandzic
MATTHEW DUGANDZIC

Matthew finished his bachelor's degree in Economics (Management) at the University of Split and got his master's degree in the same field at the University of Zadar. Whether it is playing the game as an undersized 6'3'' power forward or simply watching it, Matthew can't get enough of it. After all, he has been an avid NBA fan since the 2000s. But don't get him wrong, as Matthew still loves the old-school NBA and is a true student of the game. From on-court moments to off-court stuff, whether it's about the stars of modern-day basketball or legends of the game, Matthew covers every category of the NBA world and basketball in general, as long as it makes for an engaging and exciting story.