Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
‘You can be both’
Leonard stands for the anthem and stands up for the city of Miami with $100,000 donation
Meyers Leonard has spent the NBA’s resumption at Disney World standing for what he believes in. In a less public way, the Miami Heat center also has been standing up for what the league has made a primary purpose.
He’s visible as one of the few who has elected to stand during the national anthem for the games at the Wide World of Sports complex, while most kneel to protest systemic racism and support Black Lives Matter. However, Leonard revealed Friday a different type of statement he and his wife have made.
“I know in my heart, and if I can shed some light on this, people can be both,” he said, his brother having served two tours in Afghanistan with the U.S. Marines. “I can have true, raw emotion in my heart about the military and what that flag and that anthem and everything about it means to me. Because every time that anthem comes on, it makes me think of my brother, it makes me think of other people who have sacrificed who I was close with. By the way, sacrifice to the ultimate extent. This is not easy for me.
“But, at the same time, I look at this culture that I’ve been around in the NBA and now in Miami, for many years, and I see it, I understand it, I try to feel that pain. And I do. So that’s why I’m saying you can be both. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
So he stands at Disney, but also doesn’t stand for what has transpired in his transplanted home, after last summer’s trade from the Portland Trail Blazers.
“I truly know that I will continue to make an impact with my platform, my voice and with my resources,” he said. “I have no shame in saying that Elle and I, my wife, we donated $100,000 to the City of Miami, to Liberty City and Overtown, because they were slammed by voter suppression and COVID. And I have felt connected to this city immediately, and that was something that we felt we could do to help a place that clearly needed it.”
Bench view
Having started the first three months of the season, Leonard addressed having yet to play in the postseason series the Heat lead 2-0 against the Indiana Pacers, a series that continues Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in the NBA’s quarantine setting.
“I’m not going to say it’s been easy,” he said. “I absolutely, man, I love it. I love competing with this team. I love everything that this organization is about. There’s something about this group of guys, our staff, everybody around this organization that I truly, truly enjoy. And a piece of that is missing for me.
“And it would be ignorant for me to say that I don’t truly, truly miss that. However, staying ready is important, so when I get my opportunity I’ll be prepared.”
He similarly has been counseling former starting guard Kendrick Nunn, who also has yet to see action in the postseason.
“There’s going to be a moment that we need Kendrick Nunn, make no mistake,” Leonard said.
Ankle issue
Leonard also revealed he still is rehabbing the severe ankle sprain that sidelined him from early February through the league’s March 11 shutdown.
“With COVID, everyone said, ‘OK, well Meyers had a ton of time off,’” he said. “And that was great. However, because of the virus, I wasn’t able to get the exact treatment I needed. I was doing all of my rehab in my house. I was being a true professional to a T. However, when I arrived here, I had only done jump shots at the arena. That’s basically it, and rehab on occasion, outside of doing stuff on my own.
“So, while having rest was good, I did have a significant injury and I am a good healer. However, I needed hands-on treatment from our staff. Now I’m receiving that every single day and it’s helped me immensely. So the reason that I bring that up is I understand that there are more hurdles that I still have to overcome.”