Veteran NBA center Enes Freedom believes his public comments criticizing China’s human rights record – and the NBA for doing business with the country – led to his lack of playing time and his release, writes Sopan Deb of The New York Times.
“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize why I got little playing time and was released,” Freedom said. “But it does take people with a conscience to speak out and say it’s not right.”
While Freedom likened his recent experience in the NBA to Colin Kaepernick’s in the NFL, commissioner Adam Silver called that comparison “completely unfounded and unfair,” disputing the idea that the NBA has blackballed the player formerly known as Enes Kanter.
“We spoke directly about his activities this season,” Silver told The New York Times. “And I made it absolutely clear to him that it was completely within his right to speak out on issues that he was passionate about.”
Freedom claimed that Silver is mischaracterizing their conversation, but didn’t offer specifics, according to Deb.
Freedom, who stated earlier this season that league officials attempted to stop him from wearing shoes that read “Free Tibet” during a Celtics game, has since said those officials were actually with the C’s, Deb adds. Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said staff members merely asked Freedom if his shoes violated the league’s dress code.
“Even the next day, I just walked up to him and said, ‘Hey, you always have our support to freely express yourself and say what you want,'” Stevens told The New York Times. According to Deb, Freedom confirmed that exchange.
As Deb observes, it would be difficult to prove Freedom’s blackball allegations one way or the other, since the veteran center’s role had already been declining before he began speaking out about China.
The 29-year-old is a talented inside scorer and rebounder, but doesn’t have an outside shot and has long been considered a defensive liability (Billy Donovan‘s infamous in-game “can’t play Kanter” quote occurred all the way back in 2017). Other former lottery picks with similar skill sets, such as Greg Monroe and Jahlil Okafor, are also currently out of the NBA.
Freedom has been out of work since he was traded from Boston to Houston on February 10 and officially waived by the Rockets four days later, but he won’t give up his efforts to get back into the league, as Deb relays.
“I don’t want to retire at the age of 29,” Freedom said.
A complicated story. Hard to root for the guy. Just hope he finds some peace.
His blend of footwork, soft hands, size & strength has made him extremely easy to root for for a good decade plus now. I love watching Enes play & hope he gets a bigger role at his next stop. Kanter can score & rebound very well for a bench big. He could have something like a Walton 86/Cousins 22 type impact somewhere next yr in the right situation (Milwaukee/OKC)
Are you high? He’s an oaf.
I literally am high. Enes clearly has a lot of game tho, idk where u been, u should check youtube for Enes Kanter
I’m all set, thanks. Cool that you’re high though, very edgy. Some of your posts make a lot more sense now.
We do have freedom of speech but not freedom from consequences from said speech. Part of the whole ‘cancel culture’ thing is people want to be able to say the dumbest, unfounded sh*t and not be criticized or held to account for it. Mr. Freedom might be suffering from benign neglect of NBA front offices.
Ask Mickelson how smart it is to say dumb crap about your boss. I did it once and got fired. But I was 17. He’s 50.
What did Kanter say that is untrue?
that doesn’t mean it’s not blackballing
If he’s not considering retiring he should. He’s just not willing to admit he’s not very good. Probably the Euro circuit for him for as long as it lasts. Adios, Little Buckaroo.
Lol clearly you have something personal against this guy. Does he hate you as much as you hate him? If not you might wanna think about taking a pause
You’re the hater. Mike is realistic and not much diffetent from the wishingness you posted.
If this guy didn’t have a sneaker release every time he made a controversial political statement I might be more inclined to take his politics seriously.
Yes, the NBA is hypocritical in some of its stances RE: China.
But, yes, Enes “Freedom” – a non-3 point shooting big who can’t defend even a rudimentary pick & roll, who courts controversy at every opportunity – is more trouble than he’s worth for most NBA franchises.
Both can be true.
It’s all performative. I don’t think he’s sincere about his views on China. Trolling the NBA and LeBron is a way to get him notoriety since he’s not good enough at basketball anymore to be notable.
I have no doubt in his sincerity of his feelings towards China. Freedom has been persecuted for most of his adult life for being outspoken against similar subjects in his home country. That being said I do think it’s more of a case of the game passing him by and him not adapting to the modern game then the NBA blackballing him for his beliefs otherwise Daryl Morey wouldn’t be the GM of the 76ers.
The only sports league blackballing Kanter is the Chinese Basketball Association
Plenty of other leagues in the world where he wouldn’t be considered the worst defensive player in the league. The NBA is simply not one of them.
The problem with any player Kanter, Kap. Anyone who speaks out it automatically becomes a distraction to the team. Teams don’t want ‘drama’. Whether you agree or disagree, whether it’s good or bad drama bringing attention to something. At the end of the day Kanter isn’t good enough for the drama.
NBA teams don’t mind players speaking out on their political views, they mind players who don’t play defense.
Melo plays zero defense and is still in the nba
But Melo with a broken leg still runs loops around Kanter, as simple as!
Nobody plays defense in the NBA anymore, are you kidding…..
How dare this dude compare himself to Colin… I mean the cheek of the dude?!?!?
Every time he opens his mouth, annoys me more & more!
If Enes really wants to play he should go to the Turkish league were he may be appreciated. If Enes wants to play, then play and shut up. If he wants to be teamless, he should keep running his mouth, See how much money that earns him.
Yeah that’d be real smart. Go back to a place where the Turkish leader has threatened to imprison and kill him. Excellent idea. Sky diving without a parachute makes more sense.
I agree with Adam Silver’s comment about Kaepernick’s situation not being anything like Freedom’s. Because Kaepernick was never blackballed from the NFL. He’s had opportunities, most notably with the Baltimore Ravens who were going to offer him a contract, but moments before the call was being made his racist girlfriend made a social media post calling Ray Lewis an Uncle Tom (though Ray Lewis was the one stomping for Colin to be signed by Steve Biscotti; the Ravens owner and convinced him to do so) and Steve Biscotti a slave driver. They immediately decided not to offer him a contract. Go figure.
Freedom is clearly being blackballed by the NBA. The situations are nothing alike.
I am sure there are plenty of teams out there that couldn’t use a guy that if you give him 20 minutes of floor time can average a double-double.
You’re confusing.
Kamter does not have a team because he waves his arms at drivers instead of moving his feet to get over. Lazy feet is maddening. I question why I bother to watch a contest at all if players compete like me on my recliner.
I agree with him about Turkey but so does most people.
Enes Stateless Orphan