Why this Season is Extremely Important for Darius Leonard

The other day, I introduced you to Daequon Antoine, the best shooter in The Basketball League. Today, I’d like to introduce you to Darius Leonard, our 6’9” power forward, and explain why next season is especially important for him.

Leonard is one of the two players on the Raleigh Firebirds’ roster who was Raleigh-born and raised. He attended local Wakefield High School and Kestral Heights High School and became so dominant that he was named the 35th best player in the state, and ranked the 115th best power forward in the country. His collegiate career took him through Kent State University, Campbell University, and Wake Forest University.

Leonard actually knew the Firebirds’ team market owner, Wade Harris, from high school, as he would train with Wade at his gym (more on that another day)! So, after a stint playing professionally overseas in Germany, he came back home and played for the Owensboro Thoroughbreds in TBL’s inaugural season. The year after, he found out that Wade was making a local TBL team in Raleigh, called the Firebirds. Leonard pledged to play five years with the squad, and then retire from professional basketball.

The Firebirds’ inaugural season was 2019. This year will be the 2024 season. This is Leonard’s last season with the Firebirds, and his last season playing professional basketball.

This is a very bittersweet moment for the Firebirds community, as while everyone wishes Darius the best, he will be missed immensely, and it’s going to be very weird seeing team photos in 2025 without his smiling face.

But, the Firebirds are determined to send Leonard out on a championship. That’s why this season is “Ring Season,” and there’s no other option.

If you want a chance to watch Leonard in person for your first time (or for the last time 😭), then make sure you buy tickets as the season slowly creeps slower and slower. And don’t forget, that discount code EARLYBIRD25 will still get you 25% off tickets for opening night!

-Tex