Miami Heat’s Meyers Leonard Explains Why He Chose To Stand During The Anthem

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Orlando Magic’s Jonathan Isaac was the first NBA player to stand during the anthem while inside the NBA bubble but he’s now not the only player to do so.

On Saturday afternoon, Miami Heat’s Meyers Leonard decided to stand during the anthem while wearing a Black Lives Matter t-shirt.

Meyers spoke to Tim Reynolds of the AP and said that he decided to stand because his brother is a Marine.

Via AP News

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 by facing the Denver Nuggets at Walt Disney World.

Meyers would later expand on his reason to stand on Twitter.

Jorge Alonso BroBible avatar
Brobible sports editor. Jorge is a Miami native and lifelong Heat fan. He has been covering the NBA, MLB and NFL professionally for almost 10 years, specializing in digital media.