Imagine having the desire to keep playing in the NBA, but your body simply won’t let you. That’s the tough reality Meyers Leonard recently had to face. The former Portland Trail Blazers big man wanted to keep going, but after years of struggles, he’s finally decided to hang up his basketball sneakers. However, Leonard’s challenges in the league weren’t just about injuries. His downfall started with a mistake of his own making—one that changed the course of his career.

Back in 2021, Leonard found himself in hot water after using an antisemitic slur during a video game livestream. The backlash was swift. The Miami Heat didn’t just condemn his actions—they told him to stay away from the team indefinitely. That, along with injury issues, led to him missing both the 2021 and 2022 seasons. He did make a brief comeback in 2023, but it was barely a return, averaging just 12.7 minutes in nine games.

And now, after missing two more seasons, he’s come to terms with reality—his playing days are over. “BREAKING: Meyers Leonard has announced his retirement from the game of basketball after 10 NBA seasons,” read the caption to the post by Court Size Buzzing. The post further congratulated the ex-Blazers star for a decade-long career in which he averaged 5.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.

For those who followed Leonard’s career, his early years showed promise. The Blazers selected him 11th overall in the 2012 NBA Draft, and he spent his first seven seasons in Portland. But things took a downward turn, and when he left the Blazers, his career never really recovered.

Leonard’s struggles didn’t start with his off-court controversy. Injuries were already taking their toll. In the 2020-21 season, he played just three games before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery. Then came his suspension in March 2021. But in the end, it wasn’t just the controversy that ended his career—it was his health.

In April 2021, he underwent surgery on his right ankle, a procedure that was far from routine. Doctors discovered nerve damage in the lower half of his right leg, and suddenly, his future in basketball was in doubt.

And just like that, another NBA career has come to an end.

Meyers Leonard opens up on his retirement announcement

In a heartfelt message shared on social media, Leonard opened up about the emotions behind his retirement, making it clear that while his heart still loved the game, his body had made the decision for him.

“I knew after the Milwaukee season that I couldn’t play basketball anymore,” Leonard admitted. “It was the hardest decision I never had to make—because my body made it for me.” At first, he thought about quietly stepping away, assuming fans would figure it out over time. But as the months passed, he realized he wasn’t quite ready to leave without saying something.

So, what helped him process this new chapter? Music. Leonard has been learning to sing and write songs, a creative outlet that has helped him reflect on everything basketball has given him. “Every goodbye has led to something good,” he shared.

And when you look at his journey, it’s hard to disagree. Leaving his small hometown for the University of Illinois led him to the love of his life. Declaring for the NBA early gave him the chance to take care of his entire family. Then there was his move from Portland to Miami—a transition that brought him to the NBA Finals, where he played the best basketball of his career.

“And now, leaving the NBA has given me the greatest blessing of all—the chance to be the father I never had, to fall asleep next to my beautiful wife every night, and to spend time with the most important people in my life.”

For Leonard, this isn’t just the end of his basketball career—it’s the start of something even greater.