Report: Meyers Leonard 'In Contact' with Jewish Organizations After Using Slur

Mike Chiari @mikechiariFeatured ColumnistMarch 11, 2021

Miami Heat center Meyers Leonard warms up before the start of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, March 4, 2020, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press

Miami Heat center Meyers Leonard has reportedly been in contact with Jewish organizations and leaders after using an anti-Semitic slur during a Call of Duty stream Monday.

According to TMZ Sports, the Jewish organizations and leaders Leonard has reached out to want to "help [Leonard] learn and grow from this experience" rather than get him "canceled."

During the Call of Duty stream, Leonard said: "F--king cowards; don't f--king snipe me, you f--king k--e b---h."

Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra told reports Leonard's words were "extremely distasteful and hurtful," and the Heat announced that Leonard will be away from the team indefinitely.

Leonard took to Instagram on Wednesday to offer an apology. In part, he wrote: "I am deeply sorry for using an anti-Semitic slur during a livestream yesterday. My ignorance about its history and how offensive it is to the Jewish community is absolutely not an excuse and I was just wrong."

New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman, who is Jewish, later tagged Leonard in a tweet and offered to take him out to a Shabbat dinner, a Jewish tradition, and help him gain a better understanding of his words:

Julian Edelman @Edelman11
An open letter to @MeyersLeonard https://t.co/bJcoupfbur

Leonard is already out for the remainder of the 2020-21 season with a shoulder injury, but he will be away from the team for an undetermined amount of time while the NBA investigates his comments.

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The 29-year-old Leonard is in the midst of his ninth NBA season and his second with the Heat after spending the first seven years of his career as a member of the Portland Trail Blazers.

Leonard, who was the No. 11 overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft, has shuttled in and out of Miami's rotation the past two seasons.

In three games this season before getting injured, the 7-footer averaged 3.3 points and 2.3 rebounds per contest.

For his career, Leonard has appeared in 447 regular-season games with averages of 5.6 points and 3.9 rebounds. He has also appeared in 28 playoff games, averaging 5.3 points and 3.1 boards.