在迈阿密热火队对阵丹佛掘金队之前，梅耶斯·伦纳德为国歌起立。
“我想我可以成为一个灯塔。。。“不仅仅是因为我的声音、讲台和动作，还有我所做的每一件事，”莱纳德，一个白人，赛后对ESPN的《不败者》的马克·J·斯皮尔斯说我当然支持黑人生命的重要性。。。我很清楚发生了什么事。但我可以两者兼得。我的爱国心根深蒂固。”
乔纳森·艾萨克、格雷格·波波维奇和贝基·哈蒙也为国歌起立。
伦纳德列举了他对美国军方的尊重。他的兄弟贝利·伦纳德曾随海军陆战队在阿富汗服役两次。
“我还没睡。我现在是个僵尸。这很困难，因为事实是我有一颗充满爱心的心，非常富有同情心，我非常清楚美国今天发生的事情以及多年来发生的事情，”伦纳德告诉斯皮尔斯。
“我（当时）意识到可能发生的一些反弹。我理解。然而，我相信我做了正确的事我们现在的世界是黑白相间的。沙滩上有一条线，上面写着如果我不跪下，那我就不跟黑人生活在一起了。这不是事实。”
伦纳德还与他的兄弟和海军海豹突击队进行了交谈。
“我明白（在国歌中跪下）不是为了国旗和军队，但对我来说，是这样。基于我生活中的真实经历和真实的原始情感，这对我意味着什么，”伦纳德说，他穿着军靴、背包和面具。
原标题：
Meyers Leonard Stands For National Anthem
原文：
Meyers Leonard stood for the national anthem before the Miami Heat played the Denver Nuggets.
"I think I can be a beacon of light ... not only for my voice or platform and action, but in everything I'm doing," Leonard, who is white, told Marc J. Spears of ESPN's The Undefeated after the game. "I certainly support Black Lives Matter. ... I am very aware of what is going on. But I can be both. My patriotism runs deep."
Jonathan Isaac, Gregg Popovich and Becky Hammon have also stood for the anthem.
Leonard cited his respect for the U.S. military. His brother Bailey Leonard served two tours in Afghanistan with the Marines.
"I haven't slept. I'm a zombie right now. It's been difficult because the truth of the matter is I have a loving heart, very compassionate and I'm very aware of what is happening in America today and what has been going on for many years," Leonard told Spears.
"I [was] aware some of the backlash that could happen. I understand. However, I believe in my heart that I did the right thing," Leonard told Spears. "Our world right now is black and white. There is a line in the sand, and it says if I don't kneel, then I'm not with Black Lives Matter. That is not true."
Leonard also spoke to his brother and Navy SEALs.
"I understand that [kneeling during the anthem] is not about the flag and the military, but to me, it is. Based upon real-life experiences and real raw emotion that I've had in my life, that is what that means to me," said Leonard, who was wearing military-style boots, backpack and mask.
