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[Saba Sports News] 10-year NBA veteran Meyers Leonard took an unconventional approach to announcing his retirement.
On Sunday, the former Portland Trail Blazers lottery pick shared the news on Instagram—but rather than stopping at a heartfelt caption and a photo gallery, Leonard went a step further. He wrote, performed, and uploaded an original country song to mark the occasion.
Titled “Good In Goodbye,” the song reflects on Leonard’s journey from a small-town kid in Robinson, Illinois, to a 7-foot NBA center who played in the Finals.
“Learning to sing and songwrite has given me a chance to reflect on everything basketball has given me—and how every goodbye has led to something good,” Leonard wrote. “This song is a thank you—to basketball, the fans, my teammates, my family, the organizations, and everyone who believed in a young kid from Robinson, Illinois.”
Drafted 11th overall by the Blazers in 2012, Leonard spent seven seasons in Portland before joining the Miami Heat, where he became the starting center for their 2020 NBA Finals run.
However, his career took a sharp downturn in 2021 after he was caught using an anti-Semitic slur on a live stream, leading to a suspension. The Heat swiftly traded him to the Oklahoma City Thunder, who released him immediately.
A month later, Leonard underwent ankle surgery for nerve damage in his right leg, derailing his career further. He attempted a comeback with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2022-23 but played just nine games.
Across 10 NBA seasons, Leonard averaged 5.6 points and 3.9 rebounds over 456 games, carving out a niche as an effective stretch center with a career three-point percentage near 40%.