Malevy Leons Bio
Malevy Leons is a Dutch professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA G League. A 6-foot-9 power forward, he has built his reputation on defensive versatility, perimeter switching, and rebounding. Leons played college basketball for the Mineral Area College Cardinals and the Bradley Braves before beginning his professional career in the United States.
Born in the Netherlands and developed through the Dutch Basketball League, Leons has steadily climbed from European youth basketball to the NBA. He went undrafted in 2024 but earned a roster spot with the Golden State Warriors, where he continues to pursue a long-term role.
Early Life and Background
Malevy Leons was born on 23 September 1999 in IJmuiden, Netherlands. He was raised in the coastal city by his parents, Iwan Leons and Monique Leons, and grew up in a supportive environment that encouraged athletic development. IJmuiden, a port city known for its industrial and maritime heritage, gave Leons early exposure to competitive team sports.
From a young age, Leons trained in the youth academy of Apollo Amsterdam, one of the prominent basketball clubs in the Netherlands. The structured youth program helped him refine his fundamentals, including footwork, finishing at the rim, and defensive positioning. His combination of size and skill quickly made him a standout in the academy.
Leons developed a strong work ethic through daily practices and competitive youth games. Those formative years prepared him to make a smooth transition into the senior team at Apollo Amsterdam and, later, into the American college system. His Dutch upbringing continues to shape his disciplined, team-first approach to the game.
Path to Basketball
Leons made his senior debut for Apollo Amsterdam in the Dutch Basketball League (DBL) during the 2017–18 season, becoming one of the youngest contributors in the league. In the following season, he became a permanent member of the rotation, starting 15 games and averaging 5.9 points and 4 rebounds per game. That production confirmed his readiness for a higher level of competition.
Seeking a stronger platform, Leons moved to the United States in 2020 to play for Mineral Area College in Park Hills, Missouri. He immediately made an impact, helping the Cardinals post a 20–0 record and capture the Midwest District championship. Leons led the team with 18.7 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 2 blocks per game, performances that earned him the Junior College Player of the Year award from the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) in 2021.
Following his junior college success, Leons joined the Bradley Braves in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) starting with the 2021–22 season. He became one of the conference’s most disruptive defenders, winning back-to-back MVC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2023 and 2024. As a fifth-year senior, he averaged 13.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 1.5 blocks, and 1.3 assists per game, establishing himself as a complete two-way forward.
Malevy Leons Career
Early Career (2017–2020)
Leons began his professional career with Apollo Amsterdam of the Dutch Basketball League during the 2017–18 season. He used his debut campaign to learn the pace and physicality of senior basketball, adjusting to a faster, more physical style than academy play. His gradual integration laid the foundation for a more prominent role the following year.
In his second season with Apollo Amsterdam, Leons earned a regular starting spot, appearing in 15 starts and posting averages of 5.9 points and 4 rebounds per game. Those numbers demonstrated a clear growth curve and convinced him that the best path to professional basketball ran through the American college system.
College Breakthrough (2019–2024)
At Mineral Area College, Leons emerged as a dominant junior college player. He helped the Cardinals finish 20–0 and win the Midwest District championship, while leading the team in scoring, rebounding, assists, and blocks. His 2021 NABC Junior College Player of the Year award confirmed his status as one of the top two-year college players in the country.
After transferring to Bradley University, Leons elevated his game in the Missouri Valley Conference. He was named Second-team All-MVC in 2023 and First-team All-MVC in 2024, and he collected two MVC Defensive Player of the Year awards. Across his Bradley tenure, he developed into a versatile forward capable of guarding multiple positions and contributing across the stat sheet.
Oklahoma City Thunder / Blue Era (2024–2025)
After going undrafted in the 2024 NBA draft, Leons joined the Oklahoma City Thunder for the NBA Summer League. On 27 September 2024, he signed with the Thunder, was waived on 19 October, and was assigned to the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA G League six days later. He rejoined the Thunder on 31 October and made his NBA debut on 1 November against the Portland Trail Blazers, recording one point, one assist, and one rebound in three minutes of action.
Leons was waived again by the Thunder on 15 November and returned to the Oklahoma City Blue. On 30 July 2025, he re-signed with the Thunder on an Exhibit 10 contract before being waived prior to the start of the regular season on 18 October. His time in the Thunder organization gave him valuable NBA and G League experience.
Golden State / Santa Cruz Warriors Era (2025–Present)
On 8 December 2025, Leons signed a two-way contract with the Golden State Warriors, linking him to the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA G League. The deal gave him a long-term opportunity within a championship-caliber organization. In February 2026, Leons and fellow Dutchman Quinten Post became the first pair of Dutch teammates in the NBA since 2009, highlighting the continued growth of Dutch basketball talent at the top level.
Driving Style and Strengths
Standing 6 feet 9 inches tall with a 7-foot-1-inch wingspan, Leons has drawn praise from scouts for his positional versatility and defensive awareness. He can switch across multiple positions, protect the rim, and rebound at a high rate, while also functioning as a connective passer on offense. His combination of size, length, and basketball IQ has allowed him to fit modern NBA schemes that value switchable defenders.
Notable Events and Milestones
Leons’s 20–0 junior college season and NABC Junior College Player of the Year award stand among his defining achievements. He also collected back-to-back MVC Defensive Player of the Year honors and his 2026 pairing with Quinten Post marked a notable moment in Dutch basketball history.
Malevy Leons Career Wins
Malevy Leons has accumulated a strong set of team and individual wins across the Dutch Basketball League, junior college, NCAA, and NBA G League levels. His trophy case includes team championships at the junior college level and multiple individual conference awards.
Junior College and NCAA Highlights
At Mineral Area College, Leons helped the Cardinals post a 20–0 record and capture the Midwest District championship in 2021, the same year he was named NABC Junior College Player of the Year. At Bradley University, he earned Second-team All-MVC in 2023, First-team All-MVC in 2024, and two MVC Defensive Player of the Year awards in 2023 and 2024. He also earned selection to the MVC All-Defensive team in 2024.
Other Wins and Performances
Leons also produced a steady professional debut in the Dutch Basketball League with Apollo Amsterdam, where he moved from youth prospect to a starting forward in his second senior season. His performances in the NBA G League with the Oklahoma City Blue and the Santa Cruz Warriors further established his professional résumé.
Malevy Leons Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Malevy Leons was raised in IJmuiden by his father, Iwan Leons, and his mother, Monique Leons. The family supported his early development in the Apollo Amsterdam youth academy and encouraged his decision to move to the United States to pursue a basketball career. His Dutch roots remain a defining part of his identity as a player.
Personal Life
Leons keeps his personal life largely private and focuses publicly on his basketball career. He continues to represent the Netherlands through his play and his partnership with fellow Dutch NBA player Quinten Post.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year was a defining one for Leons. He began the year with the Oklahoma City Blue, continued to develop his game, and returned to the Oklahoma City Thunder on an Exhibit 10 contract in July 2025. He was waived in October 2025 before joining the Golden State Warriors organization.
On 8 December 2025, Leons signed a two-way contract with the Golden State Warriors, giving him both NBA and G League opportunities. The move positioned him within a contender and opened a clearer pathway to regular NBA minutes. He began splitting time between the Golden State Warriors and the Santa Cruz Warriors.
By February 2026, Leons and Quinten Post had become the first Dutch teammates in the NBA since 2009, a milestone that reflected Leons’s growing impact. His season outlook with Golden State is encouraging, as his defensive versatility and rebounding fit the Warriors’ style of play. Continued strong performances in the G League could earn him expanded NBA minutes and a longer contract beyond his current two-way deal.
