NBA star Meyers Leonard grew up with two brothers, Christian Joshua Juracich (Chris) and Bailey Leonard. Tragically, Chris died at the age of 43. Read the article till the end to learn about Meyers Leonard brother.
Meyers Patrick Leonard is a professional basketball player who plays for the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA. He has previously played for popular teams like Portland Trail Blazers and Miami Heat.
The Portland Trail Blazers selected Meyers in the first round of the 2012 NBA draft as the 11th overall pick. Meyers made his professional debut with the team on October 31, 2012.
Leonard played basketball at Robinson High School before attending the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, where he also played collegiate basketball.
In March 2021, when Leonard played for the Miami Heat, he was suspended from all team activities for a week and fined $50,000 after being caught using an anti-Semitic slur while playing a video game on a public live stream.
Meyers Leonard’s Unbreakable Bond With His Brother
Meyers grew up with two brothers: Christian Joshua Juracich and Bailey Leonard. Unfortunately, his older brother Christian Joshua passed away at his home on September 17, 2020, at the age of 43.
Joshua was born on August 20, 1977, in Shreveport, Louisiana. He was a production worker and was married to Kim Schwarzlose.
The other brother, Bailey, is only 22 months older than Meyers. Bailey and Meyers have an unbreakable bond; they have always stuck together through every hardship of life.
Leonard mentioned that the bond became stronger after their father’s death. Bailey has always been a father figure to his younger brother.
During their childhood, the brothers lived without furniture and electricity. They had to struggle to get water. Once, all of them had to sleep on the floor of the living room with only candlelight.
Later, due to their family condition, Bailey served in Afghanistan with the United States Marine Corps. During that time, the player was devastated; he even cried in his room as he had never experienced his brother’s absence.
While Bailey was serving in the armed forces, Leonard missed his brother and was worried about him. So Meyer’s brother decided to surprise his little brother.
The older brother surprised Meyers on national television by joining the player during the NBA on TNT interview. That moment was not only emotional for them but also for the audience.
Meyers Leonard Parents & Childhood Struggle
Meyers was born on February 27, 1992, in Woodbridge, Virginia, to his father, James, and mother, Tracie. Later, the player was raised in a small town in Robinson, Illinois.
When Meyers was six years old, his father, who happened to be a golf professional, tragically passed away in a bicycle accident.
Following the devastating loss, James’ mother, Tracie, experienced a significant decline in her physical health.
Meyers’ mother had been mostly confined to her home since the demise of her husband. Moreover, because of her previous horseback injury and the disc surgery, she was left with crippling pain.
In second grade, young Leonard found a surrogate family. Brian Siler. After knowing the family situation of young Leonard, Brian Siler, the father of Meyer’s classmate in his hometown of Robinson, became his father figure.
