Meyers Leonard fined by NBA, suspended from team activities

The NBA has announced that Miami Heat center Meyers Leonard has been fined $50,000 and is suspended from any form of team activities for one week following his usage of anti-Semitic term during a livestream that took place Monday, March 8.

Leonard, who is out for the season because of a shoulder injury, will also be required to participate in a cultural diversity program. ESPN reported that Leonard had been in contact with the Anti-Defamation League, an organization that was founded to fight anti-Semitism, on Wednesday. According to the article, “Leonard’s mandatory cultural diversity program is a multisession course that provides cultural, racial and sensitivity training.”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver released the following statement today regarding the situation:

“Meyers Leonard’s comment was inexcusable and hurtful and such an offensive term has no place in the NBA or in our society. Yesterday, 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.”

Because he is currently injured, Leonard will not have to forfeit the $324,000 he will be owed for the five games the Heat are due to play during his suspension, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks. He only played in three games this season before he underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in January.