Golden State Warriors forward Malevy Leons came home to visit the Bradley Braves on Wednesday and talked about his career on the Hilltop that paved his way to the NBA, the sprawling NCAA transfer portal, the thought of playing for rival Illinois State and more.
"In the three years I was here, I had a great experience, got to meet so many people and I wouldn't trade that for the world," Leons said. "It's still the same here. (Bradley head coach) Brian Wardle will make sure the program stays the way it is, the players will get the same motivation, the same development and expectations that we had when I was here."
Leons graduated and left the Bradley Braves in pursuit of a dream after the 2023-24 season and came back Wednesday as a member of an NBA roster.
The two-time Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year was in Peoria and hung out with the Braves, shooting around with returnees from the 2025-26 team.
Leons, 26, was signed in December to a two-year, two-way contract by the Golden State Warriors. A two-way deal pays the player one rate while he's in the NBA, and a lower rate if he's sent down to the parent club's G League team.
Leons, a 6-foot-9 forward, played 25 games for the Warriors in 2025-26, including two starts. He averaged 11 minutes per game, 2.1 rebounds, and shot 44.4% from the field and 25% from 3 for 3.3 points per game.
Great to visit with former Bradley star Malevy Leons, now with the NBA Warriors. In Peoria today to visit and work out with his old team. Story on the way pic.twitter.com/VwqAFr6GAq
He initially signed with Oklahoma City in 2024-25 after finishing his BU career, and made his NBA debut on Nov. 1, 2024 against Portland, notching a point, an assist and a rebound in three minutes.
Minimum salary for an NBA player with zero years of experience accrued is $1.3 million in 2026. Yet the man visiting Bradley on Wednesday was the same as ever, rich in humbleness and the same soft-spoken, good guy.
Leons has marveled at seeing nearly half the NCAA Division-I basketball players jump into the transfer portal in 2026, and the escalating money being paid out to play.
Wardle has been calling college basketball a professional game for two years now as the money and player movement grows.
"Insane," Leons said. "I left at the right time. Well, maybe (laughing). I think it's great for the guys to get these opportunities and make that much money. But it's sad, too.
"They stay one year, then they leave, they never get a chance to build relationships, to build a history with teammates and coaches and a program. You probably barely know everyone's name by the time you leave."
"For $10 million," Leons said, laughing. "That would be the price. That's what guys are making right now."
Leons was asked about former teammate Demarion Burch's transfer to bitter rival Illinois State in this 2026 portal season, and whether he'd ever imagine a situation where he'd do the same.
"Not even for that $10 million," Leons said. "I don't understand it. I mean .. well … for me, I just wouldn't transfer to Illinois State, or to any other Missouri Valley Conference team. If I was going to transfer, it would be far away as possible."
Did Leons get a championship ring from Oklahoma City in 2024-25?
"I had to decline it," he said, grinning. "In the NBA when you get a championship ring, you have to pay tax on the value of it. I couldn't afford it. It's an interesting situation. If you get a ring, you have to sign paperwork that says you can't sell it. I wouldn't want to sell it anyway."
Leons remembers the moment he was signed in December by Golden State and walked into the Warriors locker room for the first time, a bit star-struck.
"When the Warriors called I packed my bags right away and got there," Leons said. "It's been great. I walked in and saw them, Draymond Green, Stephen Curry, Al Horford, Gary Payton (II) … seeing players like that, guys who played at the highest level and done it all. Getting to meet them, they all are just awesome guys.