A Starting this Monday, on Enes Kanter’s shirt his last name will no longer appear but the word Freedom (Freedom, in Spanish), which is the new one he has chosen. According to Shams Charania, a journalist for ‘The Athletic’), the Celtics’ Turkish pvot took advantage of the fact that that same day he obtained American nationality to make Kanter his middle name and Freedom his last name.
Not be the first time wearing a shirt with that name. In the Orlando bubble, when players could use a series of vindictive slogans or words, Kanter also chose Freedom.
The Ottoman player has one of the most conflictive personalities in the NBA, but not because of events on the court but off it. This very season he has become the scourge of Nike and LeBron James in their crusade for civil rights and the inaction of the sports company regarding the treatment of minorities in China.
“There are many forced labor factories in China. For example, Uighur forced labor is modern slavery and it is happening right now. Millions of Uighurs are being detained, sold and assigned to work in forced labor camps, prisons and factories in China. all over the country. They are under constant surveillance, with long working hours and poor living conditions. Don’t forget, every time you put those shoes on your feet, or put that shirt on your back, there are so many tears and so much oppression and so much blood behind it all, “he commented recently.
Kanter has referred to Chinese President Xi Jinping as a “dictator.” And he did the same with the president of his native country, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. These accusations have led to several problems with his passport, which was withdrawn on occasion. He was also accused of terrorism and part of his family was arrested.
