Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
NBA fines Heat’s Leonard the maximum
Center’s slur also earns rebuke from commissioner
The NBA announced Thursday that Miami Heat center Meyers Leonard has been fined $50,000 and suspended one week from all team activities.
The sanction, the largest fine allowed under the NBA’s current collective-bargaining agreement, comes after the 7-foot center was heard uttering an anti-Semitic slur while livestreaming video-game play on Monday.
The NBA also said Leonard will be required to participate in a cultural-diversity program.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver issued a stern rebuke in the NBA statement.
“Meyers Leonard’s comment was inexcusable and hurtful and such an offensive term has no place in the NBA or in our society,” he said. “[Wednesday], he spoke to representatives of the Anti-Defamation League to better understand the impact of his words and we accept that he is genuinely remorseful.
“We have further communicated to Meyers that derogatory comments like this will not be tolerated and that he will be expected to uphold the core values of our league — equality, tolerance, inclusion and respect — at all times moving forward.”
Leonard earns $9.4 million this season. The $50,000 fine is less punitive than had he been suspended, with the NBA’s
formula calculating Leonard’s salary to $65,000 per game. The NBA had the ability to suspend Leonard for multiple games, but such suspensions, as well as all fines, can be appealed through the National Basketball Players Association.
Leonard is sidelined for the season after January shoulder surgery.
The Heat are expected to retain Leonard at least through the March 25 NBA trading deadline, to potentially utilize his 2020-21 salary in a deal. The Heat also hold a $10.2 million team option for Leonard next season.
The Heat then issued their second statement in as many days regarding the Leonard situation.
“Today,” the statement opened, “the NBA announced its discipline of Meyers Leonard, which included the maximum allowable fine of $50,000, a suspension from all HEAT activities for one week, and requiring that he participate in cultural diversity training. While we remain hurt and disappointed by what he said, we are encouraged that Meyers has started to take the necessary steps to educate himself about why his comments were so offensive.
“We will continue to communicate with Meyers and his representatives while he remains away from the team.”