Photo: Wilfredo Lee/AP Photo
Meyers Leonard could be returning to the NBA two years after he was suspended for using an antisemitic slur.
Leonard is set towork out for the Los Angeles Lakerson Friday, multiple sources in the league toldThe Athleticon Thursday.
The Lakers did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Reports of Leonard’s workout comes nearly two years afterhe used a racial slurduring a live broadcast ofCall of Dutyon the streaming platform, Twitch. A clip of the incident went viral on social media in March 2021 and drew swift condemnation from theAnti-Defamation Leagueandthe Heat.
At the time, Leonard was a center for the Miami Heat. Shortly after the controversy, the team announced that Leonard would be “away” from the Miami Heat “indefinitely.”
“The Miami Heat vehemently condemns the use of any form of hate speech,” the Heat said in astatement shared on Twitterat the time.
“Meyers Leonard will be away from the team indefinitely,” the team said. “The Miami Heat will cooperate with the NBA while it conducts its investigation.”
He was later fined $50,000and required to participate in a cultural diversity program.
At the time, New England Patriots starJulian Edelman, who is Jewish, published anopen letter about the incident to Leonard.Among other things, he wrote, “Casual ignorance is harder to combat and has greater reach, especially when you command great influence. Hate is like a virus. Even accidentally, it can rapidly spread.”
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Leonard had already missed most of the 2020-21 season and was expected not to see playing time until 2022 after undergoing shoulder surgery.
After the clip from Leonard’s gaming stream went viral, he issued an apology on hisInstagrampage.
“I am deeply sorry for using the anti-Semitic slur during a livestream yesterday,” he wrote. “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,” Leonard continued, in part.
PEOPLE reached out to representatives for Leonard but did not immediately hear back.
source: people.com
