Leonard explains why he stood up
Heat center says he’s supporting military during national anthem
Meyers Leonard has a brother who served two tours in Afghanistan with the U.S. Marines. He carries a military-themed backpack, wears combat boots and has a phone loaded with Navy SEALs who are his friends.
He also makes this clear: “I absolutely believe Black Lives Matter,” he said.
Still, Leonard simply could not bring himself to kneel for the national anthem.
Wearing a Black Lives Matter T-shirt over a jersey that he ordered to say “Equality,” and as all other coaches and players around him knelt, Leonard stood for the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” on Saturday before the Heat’s 125-105 victory re-opened their season by facing the Nuggets at Walt Disney World.
“Some of the conversations I’ve had over the past three days, quite literally, have been the most difficult,” Leonard told AP prior to the game. “I am with the Black Lives Matter movement and I love and support the military and my brother and the people who have fought to defend our rights in this country.”
Leonard dealt with anxiety and sleeplessness for several days as he agonized over the decision. He explained his reasoning before Saturday to current teammates and several former ones, almost all of them Black — then stood near midcourt, hand over his heart, as the song blared.
“I am a compassionate human being and I truly love all people,” Leonard said. “I can’t fully comprehend how our world, literally and figuratively, has turned into Black and white. There’s a line in the sand, so to speak: ‘If you’re not kneeling, you’re not with us.’ And that’s not true.
“I will continue to use my platform, my voice and my actions to show how much I care about the African American culture and for everyone,” he added. “I live my life to serve and impact others in a positive way.”
Heat forward Andre Iguodala, a member of the National Basketball Players Association’s executive committee, said he respected Leonard’s choice.
“On the one hand, we’re saying, ‘We want you to see things from our perspective,’ ” Iguodala said. “But by saying that, I also have to see things from his perspective. And I can see where he’s coming from.”
Career night lifts Pacers: T.J. Warren scored a career-high 53 points, Victor Oladipo added 15 after reversing course on opting out of the NBA restart and the Pacers beat the 76ers 127-121.
A sixth-year player acquired from the Suns in an offseason trade, Warren was 20 of 29 from the field and 9 of 12 on 3s.
The Pacers (40-26) took control of the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference by breaking a tie with the 76ers and winning the season series.
Joel Embiid had 41 points and 21 rebounds for the Sixers.
Layups: Paul George made three straight 3-pointers in the opening minutes and had eight overall for 28 points for the Clippers, who beat the Pelicans 126-103. The Clippers broke the franchise record by making 25 of 47 3-pointers. With his 939th career coaching victory, Doc Rivers moved past Red Auerbach into 11th place on the NBA’s all-time wins list .... Celtics G Marcus Smart was fined $15,000 by the NBA for criticizing referees for changing a call Friday night to keep Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo from fouling out . ... James Harden scored 49 points and the Rockets outlasted the Mavericks 153-149 in overtime late Friday.