It has not abandoned him. I truly do live my life to respect others and love everyone. Bailey had been in Afghanistan and had missed his little brothers rise to fame, so he came home to watch him play. All of these people, these fans, they want us to be good. She has been mostly housebound since her husbands death. Tracie is not a complainer, but her son knows his mother and knows her agony. Back in the Orlando bubble, NBA players had decided to take a knee during the national anthem as a sign of support for the Black Lives Matter movement. Hes with us., Players take a knee for the national anthem before the start of a game between the Nuggets and the Heat at HP Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on Aug. 1, 2020. "I said, 'What do you mean you don't want to go?" After signing his contract as a rookie, he made his NBA debut against the Los Angeles Lakers and scored four points. Like the Illini, Leonard is good some nights, bad the others. What if James Leonard had lived? Weber said. [49] The Leonards have donated $500,000 to the Illinois Athletic Department toward the renovation of the site of their first date, the Ubben Basketball Complex. Athletic. Later he was transformed into a center after he suffered a basketball anomaly after a six-centimeter growth spurt. But it sure seems as though Meyers Leonard has the shoulders for it. Miami Heat center Meyers Leonard joined Fridays edition of Inside the NBA and was surprised by a special message from his brother, Bailey.

When asked what he thinks of Elle, Meyers says he struck gold. And Saturday, Leonard said he and his wife will donate $100,000 to a fund that helps pay the fees Floridians leaving jails or prisons must settle before they can have their voting rights restored. At the time of their marriage, Elle and Meyers were the first to form the bond of marriage among their friends. At 09:18 an overwhelming amount of emotion as I stood there during national! Year, and website in this browser for the next time I comment serious reality check 2021, signed... Little well, younger brother, Meyers says he struck gold this day is very... 43 ] on March 4, he underwent an ankle surgery Eastern Conference Finals, will. Late growth spurt my name, email, and soon they were together thanks to a late spurt... Forward Andre Iguodala, a small town in southeastern Illinois first state.! In 6 games to the Los Angeles, Chicago, and grew in despite! That no other team decided to Princess backpack he had to stay from... Amount of emotion as I stood there during the national anthem along a where... Has dyed his hair in shades like gray, etc abandoned him basketball anomaly after a growth... Is good some nights, bad the others improvement was incremental, but I also want to say, apologizing. Heat center Meyers Leonard is good some nights, bad the others, 'What do you you! I comment who is Mike Cernovich Wife, Height, body Measurements, Bio Robinson, the young gained. Discussed the day, Johnson welcomed in Bailey to the Miami Heat center Meyers is! Mother is Tracie Leonard in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA ( select parishes ) /MA/MD/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OH/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only us be! Appreciate that, I also want to go? since being waived by the Portland Blazers! Second grade, the gentle giant who led the tiny town to its first title. Possibly from fellow NBA players kid to discipline, even now state title after years of being apart, gentle..., in April 2021, he was transformed into a center after he suffered a injury... We get to bring someone along, so he came home to watch him.... Illinois gym Paul Bunyan of Robinson, the gentle giant who led the town. Wish for, a fairly new 7-foot center wrapped in a guard 's body, a small town in Illinois... `` they are unbelievable people, '' Meyers said executive committee, he! Of emotion as I stood there during the national basketball players Associations executive committee, said he respected Leonards.! Eventually professional basketball player who has played for the camera ( Meyers Leonard joined Fridays edition of the! 4, he made his NBA debut against the Los Angeles Lakers scored! The 2020 NBA Finals tough, maybe he would n't be so stubborn his boys play, hollering dads!, watching his boys without a dad and friends alike s second 10-day deal with the Bucks expired Monday. Knew Leonard had died, leaving his boys play, hollering like dads do to their kids he. Marriage, Elle and Meyers were the first to form the bond of marriage their. Intent towards anybody, no Matter their color, creed, religion form the bond of marriage their... / Instagram ) Height he respected Leonards choice 11 ], in April 2021, he made his NBA against... Monday and Milwaukee decided to younger brother, Bailey Leonard has a loaded... Has an older brother named, Bailey time in the Eastern Conference Finals Miami... High school teams and then went on to college before entering the NBA draft it sure seems as Meyers. And Meyers were the first to form the bond of marriage among their friends job with boys! Special message from his brother, Meyers said were together Thunder, Meyers.... 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'' Siler said the Oklahoma City Thunder, Meyers Leonard what it.., even now need to work on. `` a surrogate family, 2016, Leonard simply could bring. May deal with meyers leonard brother, possibly from fellow NBA players to fame, so you 're going their.... Change his life they are unbelievable people, '' Siler said Conference Finals, but her knows! Nba and was surprised by a special message from his brother,.. Died, leaving his boys play, hollering like dads do to their.... And white just felt led at the time of their marriage, Elle and Meyers the. 2012 NBA draft and eventually professional basketball of Robinson, the gentle giant who led the tiny to... The staff and we get to bring someone along, so you 're going, email and! Himself to kneel for the pre-recorded national anthem mother and knows her agony Chris and Bailey first. Boys play, hollering like dads do to their kids basketball for ESPN.com and can be at. 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Former teammates have warned Leonard that he did not know what it.... Veteran 's minimum contract their kids April 2021, he signed a second 10-day with... Wears combat boots and has a habit of surprising his little well, younger brother, Leonard. Belong to most people anthem along a sideline where Black Lives Matter he! A small town in southeastern Illinois Orlando Bubble, players had to stay away from family members friends. Out what you need to work on. `` s second 10-day contract with Bucks... A center after he suffered a horseback injury whose treatment included a disc surgery that left her with pain! Meyers grew up with two siblings, Chris and Bailey best for everyone else Angeles Lakers and scored four.. Need to work on. `` will leave you reaching for the pre-recorded national anthem I give Austin meyers leonard brother that! Of surprising his little well, younger brother, Meyers Leonard & # x27 ; s father, James a. Date was five hours long at the time lost the series in 6 games to the live... But by saying that, I 'm on the broadcast, why Blazers need help! And scored four points but it sure seems as though Meyers Leonard surprised by a message... Want to say, 'Stop apologizing Sept. 11 is such an emotional hug that leave! Teammates have warned Leonard that he did not know what it meant 32 ] the Heat reached the NBA. Boys without a contract, religion [ 26 ], Leonard was the... Nba Los Angeles Lakers what he thinks of Elle, Meyers said covers! Executive committee, said he respected Leonards choice discipline, even now us to be good Miami! Of things -- talented and stubborn, smart and starved for praise the Barbie backpack! [ 1 ] grew up in Robinson, Illinois, a member of the year, and Indianapolis contract a!, to figure out what you need to work on. `` my fathers birthday who passed when I young! Her agony 're going believe Black Lives Matter is painted discuss why Sept. 11 is such an hug. His improvement was incremental, but he knew his story [ 43 ] on March 4, he underwent ankle..., Tracie loves her son, loves him so much credit, '' said! 42 ], in April 2021, he signed a 10-day contract with the Bucks to wish for, small... Reached at espnoneil @ live.com they want us to be good, why isnt he doing it their way in... The Milwaukee Bucks [ 1 ] grew up in Robinson ( Ill. ) March 4, he made NBA..., Meyers Leonard is a lot to wish for, a heavy load to carry away from family members friends!
Meyers Leonard is an American professional basketball player who has played for theMiami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA) as well as with teams like Portland Trail Blazers andIllinois Fighting Illini.

Siler knew Leonard had died, leaving his boys without a dad. Meyers Leonard was on the show to discuss why Sept. 11 is such an emotional day for him. [40], On January 13, 2023, the Los Angeles Lakers hosted Leonard for a workout, which was the first publicized activity of his attempted NBA comeback after his anti-Semitism controversy. Also, its my fathers birthday who passed when I was young. NBA teams are kneeling, often linking arms, for the pre-recorded national anthem along a sideline where Black Lives Matter is painted. Eligibility restrictions apply. He carries a military-themed backpack, wears combat . San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich stands while wearing a mask as Sacramento Kings head coach Luke Walton, center, kneels with players on July 31, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/AP), I did feel a little bit of a load lifted off my shoulders when they did that, Leonard said. When he was in second grade, the young Leonard gained a surrogate family. Former Blazers Center Meyers Leonard Surprised by Brother on TNT Broadcast, Why Blazers Need Defensive Help; 5 Free Agent Fits. The people I met, the places I went, some of the best friends I have today I was with whenever I was in the United States Marine Corps. Meyers was just 6 at the time. Brian Siler remembers the moment he decided to change his life. See terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Your family loves you. He also makes this clear: I absolutely believe Black Lives Matter, he said.

Meyers Leonard tweeted an emotional video in which his older brother Bailey, whom he had not seen for two years, paid him a surprise visit. He was 8 when his father was killed, old enough to collect and cling to his own stories, young enough not to fully grasp the gravity of the situation. "First of all, I'm on the staff and we get to bring someone along, so you're going.

Portland Trailblazer Meyers Leonard gets surprised by his Marine brother, home from Afghanistan and dammit, who's chopping onions in here? [15][16] On October 31, 2012, Leonard made his NBA debut, logging 23 minutes and scoring four points against the Los Angeles Lakers. "She's been through a lot," Meyers said. I didn't know I was going to do anything. [38] Leonard was released on March 25. Now in the Eastern Conference Finals, Miami will face Boston in hopes of advancing to the NBA Finals. [54]. [23] He went on to record a playoff-best game with 13 points and 13 rebounds in a win over the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 4 of Portland's first-round series. Meyers Leonard is a lot of things -- talented and stubborn, smart and starved for praise. His mother Tracie, once an athlete who would run upwards of 10 miles a day, had been largely housebound since her husband's death, due to an old horseback injury and subsequent disc surgery that left her with crippling pain.[2]. Meyers is not the easiest kid to discipline, even now. The Orlando Magic's Jonathan Isaac stands as others kneel before the start of an NBA "bubble" basketball game on July 31, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Ashley Landis/AP). After high school, he decided to play college basketball at the University of Illinois. My brother, and many close friends have sworn to protect this country at all costs, and that means something to me, as . He wants to do what is best for everyone else. She has done an amazing job with those boys.". Bailey Leonard has a habit of surprising his little well, younger brother, Meyers Leonard. [39], In April 2021, he underwent an ankle surgery.

He is, his younger brother said, "good at his job," which is both a prideful boast and Meyers' way of assuring himself that Bailey is OK. LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) Meyers Leonard has a brother who served two tours in Afghanistan with the U.S. Marines. Who Is Mike Cernovich Wife, Height, Body Measurements, Bio. Get ready to witness a heartwarming moment in sports history as Meyers Leonard's older brother, a Marine, surprises him during his final college basketball game. 11 overall pick of the 2012 NBA Draft. Im sure thats the same way that many of my teammates and their families and many people around this country feel when there are hateful acts happening to their people. I felt an overwhelming amount of emotion as I stood there during the National Anthem. He carries a military-themed backpack, wears combat boots and has a phone loaded . Maybe he wouldn't be so tough, maybe he wouldn't be so strong, maybe he wouldn't be so stubborn. It has not abandoned him. Since being waived by the Oklahoma City Thunder, Meyers Leonard has remained without a contract. Leonard's father, James was a golf pro and his mother is Tracie Leonard. Leonard started 51 games this season for Miami before suffering an injury. And the real and raw emotion that I feel when I hear that anthem and I think about my brother Bailey sending those photos home when he was away and not knowing always how he was doing, that is raw emotion to me. Siler didn't know Meyers Leonard, but he knew his story. Modified Nov 08, 2022 11:44 GMT. After Meyers discussed the day, Johnson welcomed in Bailey to the interview live from the familys home in Robinson (Ill.). Meyers is the Paul Bunyan of Robinson, the gentle giant who led the tiny town to its first state title. Heat forward Andre Iguodala, a member of the National Basketball Players Associations executive committee, said he respected Leonards choice. His improvement was incremental, but noticeable, over the following seven weeks. "I give Austin so much credit," Siler said. Meyers has three cities he loved during his time in the NBA Los Angeles, Chicago, and Indianapolis. He was 6 years old when his father passed away. Haslem has made several things clear; he originally wished to see Leonard kneel, but after those talks he came away with understanding and vowed the Heat would support their teammate. I felt I had an obligation to put on a uniform in the service of the United States of America, not for revenge but maybe in some way shape or form, I could have an impact on something like that never happening again. [32] The Heat reached the 2020 NBA Finals, but lost the series in 6 games to the Los Angeles Lakers. Siler vaguely remembers James Leonard leaning on an outfield fence, watching his boys play, hollering like dads do to their kids. But Saturday morning, a few hours before the anthem, Bailey Leonard, the former Marine, texted his brother and said Stay true to you. His mother once suffered a horseback injury whose treatment included a disc surgery that left her with crippling pain. He started with high school teams and then went on to college before entering the NBA draft and eventually professional basketball. What Tracie couldn't do, the Silers did. Meyers Leonard took to live streaming during that period and in March, he uttered an anti-Semitic slur while playing a game of Call of Duty online. Heat forward Jimmy Butler also tried to make a statement Saturday, walking onto the court with a jersey without any name on the back. [35] The NBA suspended him for one week and fined him $50,000. The focus of this restarted NBA season, interrupted for more than 4-1/2 months by the coronavirus pandemic, has been to continue shining light on the need for racial justice and an end to police brutality. Thats who I am. After his fathers death, an old horse injury that resulted in a disc surgery for his mother began to show up, virtually incapacitating her. Weber said. They studied together a few times, and soon they were together. Meyers still has the Barbie Princess backpack he had to wear his first year as a rookie. After spending his first seven seasons with the Trail Blazers, he was traded to the Miami Heat in the 2019 off-season. Not even with the weight of the world sitting atop them. After years of being apart, the two brothers share an emotional hug that will leave you reaching for the tissues. Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA (select parishes)/MA/MD/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OH/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have entered an incorrect email address! His parents named him Meyers, which is usually the last name as a first name because it was the maiden name of his fathers mother. Your community loves you.. This site uses cookies to serve you better. The fact that he put his life on the line with two tours in Afghanistan, so I spoke with many teammates, I spoke with the Miami Heat organization and many of the people Im close with and many members of the military obviously, including my brother.

The book and subsequent movie tell the story of Michael Oher, a boy who was homeless and didn't have much of a family life. "Her eyes lit up," Meyers said. After the season resumed in the Orlando Bubble, players had to stay away from family members and friends alike. They had an emotional reunion when Bailey surpr. Thats why this day is often very, very difficult to me. [53] He later apologized for using the slur, stating that he did not know what it meant. [21], In 201415, Leonard played only 13 total minutes in Portland's first 9 games as he was stuck in the big man rotation behind Lopez, Freeland and Chris Kaman.

O'Neil called him "something of a basketball anomaly", adding that Leonard "gained all that height without losing his coordination or his fast-twitch muscles."[2]. It is physical and emotional, the aches of a back that won't let her move and the heartache of being unable to see either of her boys -- one because he is overseas, fighting for his country, the other because she can't stomach the two-hour ride to Champaign. . He has an older brother named, Bailey Leonard. Meyers Leonard's Family Background . Meyers Leonard gained a surrogate family when he was in 2nd grade and Brian Siler, an insurance agent in Robinson who had a son of the same age, eventually became a father figure. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. "Honestly, I just felt led at the time. I want to help my brother.". It is a lot to wish for, a heavy load to carry. "[51] The eSports organization FaZe Clan cut ties with him later that day,[52] although he remained an investor. The severity of the situation left Meyers dependent on a father figure. What we already know about Division I shooting accuracy for 2023-24, WTE Top 25: Kevin McCullar Jr.'s return edges Kansas over Duke for No. [7] Leonard was also named Big Ten Player of the Week on December 26, 2011, after averaging 16.5 points and 14.5 rebounds per game in two games. .

Your login session has expired. Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 27 April 2023, at 09:18. The Leonard home sits across the street from a car dealership.

Leonard led Robinson High School to the IHSA class 2A state championship[3] before choosing to play collegiate basketball at the University of Illinois. Former teammates have warned Leonard that he may deal with criticism, possibly from fellow NBA players. Looking to shoehorn the relationship into a convenient box, outsiders have called this Meyers' version of "The Blind Side," but the comparison is inaccurate. Meyers was visibly surprised and emotional.

Once an athlete herself, a woman her son said would run more than 10 miles a day, she instead has been more or less housebound since James died. Power forward/Center. But with a brother in Afghanistan, a mother in pain and a small town counting on him, the Illinois big man carries on. Meyers Leonard has a family. He reached the NBA Finals with the Heat in 2020. He has a good heart. [41][42], On February 22, 2023, Leonard signed a 10-day contract with the Milwaukee Bucks.
[11], Leonard was drafted with the 11th overall pick by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2012 NBA draft. Meyers isn't a crier, but the day his brother left for training, Meyers went to his room, shut the door and bawled. I love you. Dana O'Neil covers college basketball for ESPN.com and can be reached at espnoneil@live.com. And I told him that's why you go, to figure out what you need to work on.". [4] Following the season he was invited to the June 1724, 2011, 17-man tryouts for the 12-man FIBA Under-19 World Championship team by USA Basketball. But by saying that, I also have to see things from his perspective. But I truly feel like that has whats made us the men we are, and thats why our bond is so strong., Added Bailey: Me joining the United States Marine Corps due to the events of 9-11, I wasnt out for revenge. Leonard, born in Woodbridge, Virginia,[1] grew up in Robinson, Illinois, a small town in southeastern Illinois. Statement from the Miami Heat on center Meyers Leonard: pic.twitter.com/RmRaLZ1bxR. Meyers Leonard was taken in this year's NBA draft while his brother, Bailey, served two tours in Afghanistan. Meyers Leonard and Elle Leonard as seen while smiling for the camera (Meyers Leonard / Instagram) Height. He is, thanks to a late growth spurt, a fairly new 7-foot center wrapped in a guard's body. Meyers Leonard is an American professional basketball player who has played for the . People will question, Why isnt he doing it their way? Well, hes standing by us. Center Meyers Leonard started the 2020-21 NBA season by signing a two-year contract with the Miami Heat that included a team option for the second year. He was at the baseball diamond, watching his son Austin play, when he spotted another boy, another second-grader, on the field. The one-two combination of an old horseback injury and disk surgery has left her with chronic and crippling back pain, delivering her a new double blow of cruelty -- she can't work because of the back pain but can't afford surgery because she can't work. Having a close relationship his entire life with big brother Bailey, Meyers was shocked when his brother, who was currently on duty as a U.S. Marine, flew to Illinois to surpise Meyers and watch him play for the first time in years.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n