Enes Kanter Freedom is the most outspoken basketball player, and it seems it has caught up to him. The 30-year-old was in Washington, D.C., recently and revealed his feeling that the NBA is trying to force him into early retirement.
“They’re pushing me to retire at the age of 30, unfortunately,” Enes said to TMZ. “When you talk about some of the most uncomfortable situations that are happening around the world and the organization that you’ve played for eleven years has tied up billions of dollars with that dictatorship, it’s tough. I’m going to push through it. I’m still working out. I’m still practicing.”
However, Kanter Freedom took it a step further with a statement that will surely not make his relationships in the league any closer. He came straight for NBA commissioner Adam Silver.
“But the one thing I can say is the NBA and Adam Silver is definitely one of the most hypocritical organizations and one of the most hypocritical commissioners out there in the world.”
“They stand up for things until it affects their money or business,” Enes said, “and someone had to expose them, and someone finally exposed them and from firsthand.”
Currently, Kanter Freedom is not in the NBA, and no team has signed him since he was traded and cut from the Boston Celtics to the Houston Rockets. Kanter Freedom feels his activism is the reason, likening himself to the basketball version of Colin Kaepernick.
It was great to meet with human rights advocate Enes Kanter Freedom, local constituents, and my fellow colleagues at an event supporting global human rights earlier this week. pic.twitter.com/BaNqXU49X8
— Rep. Lloyd Smucker (@RepSmucker) June 25, 2022
Now he is also standing up for the plight of WNBA player Brittney Griner who is being held in Russia.
“Well, she’s being held hostage by one of the most brutal dictatorships in the world and we can do whatever we can to bring her here safe. I’m so happy that my NBA brothers and WNBA sisters are doing whatever they can to bring awareness about what’s going on. It’s just unacceptable, and we need to bring her here as soon as possible.
“Every player plays an important role in this because we need to bring more attention to the cause, and we need her home safe.”
Kanter Freedom was critical of Russia, the league, and his fellow players, who he believes should speak up more about Griner’s detention and are afraid to speak up about China’s mistreatment of its Uyghur ethnic minority.
My brave human rights activist friends around the world,
We should always stand against these brutal dictatorships everywhere.
We can’t let them spread their dark propaganda
I’m very proud of this activist for calling out #CCP official without any fear while he was spreading lies pic.twitter.com/LY1zvkqEZA— Enes FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) June 27, 2022
“They definitely need to do more because you’re dealing with, like I said again, one of the most brutal dictatorships in the world,” Enes continued.
“Have some courage, because what I’m talking about is human rights is above politics, so I’m going to do whatever I can to bring awareness and be the voice of all the innocent people out there who don’t have a voice.
“Two have some morals, have some principles, have some values, it’s more important than money and business. Put yourself in their shoes, If your daughter, if your sister were in those concentration camps getting tortured and raped every day, would you still care about your next paycheck? So all these athletes out there right now, shame on them.”
