Meyers Leonard
Meyers LeonardReuters

Center Meyers Leonard is returning to in the NBA, nearly two years after uttering an antisemitic slur which resulted in a suspension and a fine.

Leonard, 30, on Monday signed a 10-day contract with the Milwaukee Bucks, ESPN reported. The Bucks had been monitoring Leonard for over a year, and he worked out for the team last month, the report said.

Leonard caused an uproar in March of 2021 after a social media video surfaced of him using the word “k**e” while playing a livestream game.

Leonard subsequently issued an apology for the incident, writing, "I am deeply sorry for using an anti-Semitic slur during a livestream” and adding, "While I didn't know what the word meant at the time, my ignorance about its history and how offensive it is to the Jewish community is absolutely not an excuse and I was just wrong. I am now more aware of its meaning and I am committed to properly seeking out people who can help educate me about this type of hate and how we can fight it.”

"I acknowledge and own my mistake and there's no running from something like this that is so hurtful to someone else,” he added.

Leonard, who was a member of the Miami Heat at the time of the incident, was not playing due to injury. The NBA nevertheless suspended him for 10 days and fined him $50,000 for the slur.

Several days after the suspension, the Heat traded Leonard to the Oklahoma City Thunder, who immediately waived him. He had not played in the NBA since.

In addition to the incident involving the antisemitic slur, Leonard's return to the NBA was delayed because of injury, including ankle and shoulder rehabilitations that left him unable to pursue a contract until earlier this season.

The antisemitic incident was met with a backlash at the time, with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) criticizing Leonard for using the offensive word. In August of 2021, Leonard spoke at an online event discussing education to combat antisemitism.

“Since his use of a derogatory and unacceptable term in 2021, Meyers Leonard has been held accountable and has dedicated considerable time and effort to understand the impact of his comment,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass recently said in a statement, as Leonard began working out for teams, according to The New York Post.

“He has met with numerous leaders in the Jewish community and participated in community programs to educate himself and use his platform to share his learnings with others,” noted Bass.