Entering Monday’s game, Celtics center Enes Kanter has appeared in just two games this season, logging less than total 10 minutes in his latest stint in Boston. Kanter, who has been an outspoken critic of the Chinese government, published a social media post on Sunday implying that there may be a connection between his limited role on the court and his political stances off of it.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Celtics head coach Ime Udoka dismissed the idea that Kanter has been out of the rotation due to his comments in the press and on social media.
“My thing is strictly basketball,” Udoka said, per Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston (Twitter link). “We’re switching a lot and doing some things that probably are not as natural for him and that’s limited his time to some extent … Nothing basketball-related will be based on [social media].”
Kanter ended up seeing a little action on Monday in Cleveland, scoring five points in eight minutes as Boston defeated the Cavs by a score of 98-92.
Here’s more from around the Atlantic:
- Dennis Schröder is off to a strong start with the Celtics this season, averaging 17.1 PPG and 5.2 APG through 14 games (33.0 MPG). However, as Forsberg writes for NBC Sports Boston, the better Schröder plays, the less likely it is he remains in Boston beyond 2021/22, given the team’s cap constraints going forward.
- Nets rookie guard Cameron Thomas has new representation, according to Jorge Sierra of HoopsHype, who tweets that Thomas has signed with Jim Tanner and Terrence Felder of Tandem Sports + Entertainment/You Sports. Thomas is in the first year of his rookie scale contract, so it will likely be a while before his new agents have to negotiate a new deal.
- Mitchell Robinson tweaked his ankle on Monday and Nerlens Noel has battled injuries all season, so Taj Gibson has played a greater role than the Knicks may have anticipated when they re-signed him this offseason. The veteran big man has responded admirably when called upon, as Marc Berman of The New York Post writes. In 29 minutes on Monday, Gibson had more fouls (three) than points (two), but grabbed eight rebounds and was a plus-22 in a game New York won by eight points.
My guy Dennis been ballin. He dominated Ricky (yet again) & carried his team to a big W last night vs Cle. He needs to be starting for the rest of the yr in Boston fr
Rubio went for 28 on good efficiency and Schroeder only had 14 and 3. Cavs lost cuz their best player(mobley) couldn’t buy a bucket.
I meant to say down the stretch Dennis dominated Ricky. The last 4,5 possessions Dennis made winning plays & carried Boston to the W. Ricky & Tatum put up big #s & had good games but Dennis won the game
Taj saved the Day …… Queens native
Knicks have to win next two gms. Cause then it gets serious. Knicks finally played D for most of gm.
Taj is from Fort Greene, Brooklyn.
Enes needs to apologize to the Chinese bosses, or they won’t allow him to play!!
Puzzling how a mediocre team like BOS don’t play more a good player like Enes, specially when they have no scoring punch from the bench… he might be on to something with his ruminations, right?
No, he’s not good enough to crack the rotation.
Now that you say that, I forgot BOS has a bunch of better centers in the bench… maybe they should play them, as I haven’t seen any yet this season, right?
kanter is just trash he can’t shoot and hes too slow to guard any center in the league lmao