Blazers Rookie Meyers Leonard Misses Dunk Badly, Clangs Ball Off Rim, Out of Bounds (Animation)

by NESN Staff on Fri, Dec 14, 2012 at 11:39AM

Damian Lillard‘s professional career is off to a roaring start. The rookie point guard for the Trail Blazers is the early leader for the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award, averaging 18.9 points and 6.4 assists, while Hornets center Anthony Davis has battled injuries.

On the other end of Portland’s rookie spectrum is Meyers Leonard. The center out of Illinois has appeared in all 22 games and actually started two games, but his performance has fallen well short of his teammate’s. Leonard is averaging just 4.9 points and 3.7 rebounds per game, and in Thursday’s game against San Antonio, he had sort of an embarrassing moment.

Leonard got the ball at the left elbow and gathered himself for what he probably pictured would be a highlight-reel tomahawk dunk. Unfortunately for Leonard, he took off a bit too soon and ended up clanging the ball off the back of the rim and out of bounds. Instead of a highlight, Leonard provided a lowlight that might be a microcosm of his season so far.

Check out Leonard’s missed dunk in the animation below.