Meyers Leonard
An American big man whose rare combination of seven-foot size and elite three-point shooting carved out a unique, if turbulent, NBA niche.
Born 1992 (age 34)·American basketball player·Birthday: February 27·Millennials
Biography
Meyers Leonard's professional basketball career was defined by a tantalizing, modern prototype: a genuine seven-footer who could stretch the floor with a pure, high-arcing jump shot. Drafted 11th overall by Portland in 2012 out of Illinois, he spent years refining his game behind established stars, becoming a fan favorite for his energy and surprising shooting touch. His peak came during the 2019-20 season after a trade to Miami, where his skill set perfectly complemented the Heat's system; he started 49 games and shot a blistering 42.9% from three-point range, helping propel the team to the NBA Finals in the Florida bubble. However, his career was abruptly derailed in 2021 after he used an anti-Semitic slur while live-streaming a video game, resulting in an NBA suspension and effective exile from the league. His story remains a complex tale of unrealized potential, a specific modern skill, and the severe consequences of a moment of profound error.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Meyers was born in 1992, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Meyers Was Born
The biggest hits of 1992
#1 Movie
Aladdin
Best Picture
Unforgiven
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Meyers's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1992Born
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1997Started school
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2005Became a teenager
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Could drive
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2010Could vote
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Turned 21
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2022Turned 30
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 34 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Started at center for the Miami Heat during their run to the 2020 NBA Finals.
- Shot 42.9% from three-point range in the 2019-20 NBA season, an exceptional mark for a center.
- Set a Trail Blazers franchise record for three-pointers in a game by a center, making 6 in 2016.
- Averaged a career-high 8.4 points per game in the 2015-16 season with Portland.
Did You Know?
He is an avid outdoorsman and passionate about hunting and fishing.
He set an NBA record for most three-pointers made in a quarter by a center, hitting 5 in the third quarter of a game in March 2016.
He underwent major shoulder surgery in 2017 that significantly impacted his trajectory.
He publicly apologized and undertook extensive education with the Jewish community following his use of an anti-Semitic slur.
“I worked every day to be a seven-footer who could space the floor and knock down shots.”
