Leonard torn on anthem, stands tall
Marine brother influences Heat big man’s call
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 re-opened their season with a convincing 125-105 win over the Denver 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 The Associated Press 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 played.
“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.”
San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich and Spurs assistant Becky Hammon both stood for the anthem Friday. Popovich, a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, stood with arms at his side. Hammon draped her arms over the shoulders of fellow assistant Will Hardy and Spurs guard Patty Mills.
“I did feel a little bit of a load lifted off my shoulders when they did that,” Leonard said. “Each of those individuals had their own personal reasons, just as I do.”
Popovich told reporters he’d prefer to keep the reason behind his decision to himself.
“Everybody has to make a personal decision,” he said. “The league’s been great about that.”
Clippers
Just before tipoff Saturday, the Los Angeles Clippers received word that forward Montrez Harrell’s grandmother died. Coach Doc Rivers told Harrell to take as much time as he needs.
“From others, I get asked from inside like, when is Trez coming back and my answer’s been the same,” Rivers said before the game. “When he’s ready, he’ll come back.”
Paul George made three consecutive 3-pointers in the opening minutes and had eight overall for 28 points as the Clippers, who rode a team-record barrage of long-range shots, beat the faltering New Orleans Pelicans, 126-103, in the bubble. The Clippers broke the franchise record by making 25 of 47 3-pointers.
Celtics
Marcus Smart was fined $15,000 by the NBA for criticizing referees after the Boston Celtics guard claimed the officials changed a call Friday night to keep Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo from fouling out.
Antetokounmpo appeared to have picked up a sixth foul after he was called for charging when he crashed into Smart with 1:28 left. However, referees changed the call to a blocking foul after video replay.