By Antigoni Zachari / info@eurohoops.net
Enes Kanter pointed out on his twitter account that his name has been censored during the playoffs by the official account of NBA Turkey, while at the same time Blazers games aren’t broadcasted in Turkey. This is a result of the ongoing conflict between Kanter and the Turkish state.
Following these events, the NBPA took action in support of Kanter and released the following statement:
“The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) fully supports our players using their platforms to stand up for their beliefs and the principles they support. We stand with Enes and, as with all of our players, will work to ensure that he is treated fairly and with respect.”
At the same time, the NBA also took action. As reported by Royce Young, NBA Dep. Commissioner Mark Tatum made the following comments: “Fans in Turkey can watch all playoff games featuring Enes Kanter and the Portland Trail Blazers on NBA League Pass and NBA TV International. The NBA Turkey Twitter account was managed by a local vendor and we are terminating that relationship.”