By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The latest on Enes Kanter Freedom’s relationship with the government of Turkey involves a bounty for his capture.
“That makes it so dangerous,” he told the New York Post confirming his addition to the Turkish Terrorist Wanted List, “Before the bounty, Turkish intelligence were after the people on the list, but now everyone is after them because they want the money.”
“I’m speaking out because I am not the only one on that list,” he added, “There are so many journalists, so many activists, and so many athletes, but they aren’t as well-known as me. They are way easier targets. And they’re alone out there.”
Born in Switzerland to Turkish parents, he lived in Turkey before moving to the USA. During his professional basketball career, he represented Turkey in various junior international tournaments and in the 2011 EuroBasket at the senior level. However, publicly criticizing the country’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accusing him of lacking respect for human rights, and calling him a dictator led to multiple issues including his father being arrested after being charged as a member of a terrorist group and an arrest warrant issued for himself, and more leading to the most recent development.
The bounty for his capture amounts to 10 million Turkish Lira, just under 500,000 euros, just over 500,000 US dollars.
Kanter, 30, became a US citizen and added Freedom to his name in 2021. Besides confirming officially becoming wanted in Turkey, he revealed intentions to sue the NBA. “I’m waiting for the right time,” he mentioned to the New York Post claiming he was blackballed after public protests against China.
He last played in the NBA during the 2021-22 Regular Season appearing in 35 games for the Boston Celtics before being traded and subsequently waived by the Houston Rockets in February 2022. Other former NBA teams stretch to the Portland Trail Blazers, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Utah Jazz.
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