Why hasn't Meyers Leonard not played for a while? Controversy surrounding new Bucks signing explored

Meyers Leonard's basketball career has had many ups and downs. The 7-foot center has dealt with a lot of injuries, but his remarks on a March 2021 Twitch stream nearly ended his professional career.

Leonard is currently with the Milwaukee Bucks, who recently signed him to a new deal. He's also played for the Miami Heat and Portland Trail Blazers.

The 10-year NBA veteran is a great player who is valuable off the bench. He provides size and rebounding, and can also knock down 3-point shots at a consistent rate.

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Meyers Leonard's career nearly ended after a Twitch stream in March 2021

Back in the 2020-21 season, Meyers played for the Miami Heat. This was his second season in Florida and he played in his first NBA Finals during his first season with the team.

Unfortunately, the second year in Miami did not go well for Leonard. He has dealt with numerous injuries, appearing in only three games. However, the biggest problem he had were inappropriate remarks during a Twitch stream.

The 7-foot center was suspended and fined for the comments, and he was out of the league shortly after.

Meyers Leonard spent a lot of time playing Call of Duty: Warzone while recovering from injuries. The battle royale video game was very popular in 2021, which is why numerous athletes played it. Leonard also streamed the game on Twitch.

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Unknowingly, the NBA player used an anti-Semitic slur during a live stream. Shortly after, the 7-foot center was suspended for one week and fined $50,000. Less than two weeks after the incident, Meyes was traded to the OKC Thunder.

Leonard was criticized for his use of anti-Semitic slur (Image via Getty Images)

After the conclusion of the season, Leonard underwent ankle surgery. He was both a controversial and injury-prone player, which is why many teams were not interested in his services. However, the Milwaukee Bucks gave him a chance and it has paid off.

The talented center sincerely apologized for his remarks and has worked with several Jewish groups since then. Leonard also hosted basketball camps for Jewish children.

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Leonard has been decent with the Bucks

Meyers Leonard received two 10-day contracts from the Bucks, which allowed him to show off his value. On Tuesday, the Eastern Conference team signed the big man for the rest of the season.

In his first game after a long break, Leonard faced his former team, the Miami Heat. He spent 15 minutes on the floor, scoring five points and grabbing six rebounds, helping Milwaukee blow out the Heat by 29 points.

Meyers played in the 2020 NBA Finals (Image via Getty Images

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He's appeared in five games for the Bucks, averaging 2.8 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. Leonard has played only seven minutes on average, but could also get a bigger role later in the season.