Enes Freedom

Freedom with the Boston Celtics in 2021
Personal information
Born	(1992-05-20) May 20, 1992 (age 32) Zürich, Switzerland
Nationality	Turkish/American[1][2]
Listed height	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight	250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High school	Stoneridge Preparatory School (Simi Valley, California)
College	Kentucky[3]
NBA draft	2011: 1st round, 3rd overall pick
Selected by the Utah Jazz
Playing career	2008–2009; 2011–2022
Position	Center
Career history
2008–2009	Fenerbahçe
2011–2015	Utah Jazz
2015–2017	Oklahoma City Thunder
2017–2019	New York Knicks
2019	Portland Trail Blazers
2019–2020	Boston Celtics
2020–2021	Portland Trail Blazers
2021–2022	Boston Celtics
Career highlights and awards
FIBA Europe U18 Championship MVP (2009) Albert Schweitzer Tournament Most Talented Player (2008) WWE 24/7 Champion
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals Men's basketball Representing  Turkey FIBA Europe U18 Championship 2009 France Team

Enes Kanter Freedom (Turkish pronunciation: [eˈnes kanˈtæɾ fɾiˈdom]; born Enes Kanter; May 20, 1992^[4]) is an American professional basketball player and human rights activist who last played for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He also had a brief professional wrestling career, where he is a former WWE 24/7 Champion. Born in Switzerland to Turkish parents, he was raised in Turkey and moved to the United States as a teenager. Freedom was selected as the third overall pick of the 2011 NBA draft by the Utah Jazz. A center, Freedom played for five NBA teams during his eleven-year career.

Early years

Enes Kanter Freedom was born on May 20, 1992, in Zürich, Switzerland as Enes Kanter.^[5] Kanter's parents are Turkish people who moved to Switzerland as a child.^[6] His father, Mehmet Kanter, received his M.D. from the University of Zurich. The family then returned to Turkey,^[7] where Kanter grew up.^[6] Mehmet Kanter became a professor of histology and genetics at Trakya University.^[7] Kanter's mother, Gülsüm Kanter, is a nurse.^[8] Kanter has three younger siblings: two brothers (including basketball player Kerem Kanter) and one sister.^[9]

Starting in second grade, Kanter attended Hizmet-affiliated schools, part of the Gülen movement in Turkey.^[10] He lived in Ankara and then moved to Istanbul to play professional basketball as a teen.^[11]

At the age of 17, Kanter moved to the United States to play basketball. He attended Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nevada, and then Mountain State Academy in Beckley, West Virginia; neither school allowed him to play high school basketball because he had already played basketball professionally.^[12] Kanter then attended Stoneridge Preparatory School in Simi Valley, California, where he was able to play basketball for a season.^[11]

Professional career

Fenerbahçe (2008–2009)

Before moving to the United States, Kanter played under Serdar Apaydın's management for the Fenerbahçe youth squad between 2006 and 2008^[13] and then, during the 2008–09 season, Kanter was a seldom-used reserve for the Fenerbahçe senior team.^[14] He played in at least nine games with the team: four in the EuroLeague and five in the Turkish Super League.^[14] Fenerbahçe and the Greek League basketball team Olympiacos both offered Kanter professional contracts, but he declined because he wanted to play high school and college basketball in the United States.^[5]

In 2009, Kanter moved to the United States, where he enrolled at Stoneridge Preparatory School in Simi Valley, California, and played for the basketball team in 2009–10.^[15] At the 2010 Nike Hoop Summit, Kanter played for the international team, recording 34 points and 13 rebounds.^[14] His point total was a record for the event, breaking Dirk Nowitzki's record set in the 1998 game.^[14] Both Rivals.com and Scout.com (now known as 247Sports.com) rated Kanter as a five-star prospect, the highest possible rating.^[16][17]

On November 23, 2009, Kanter verbally committed to play for the Washington Huskies.^[5] Kanter chose Washington over UCLA, USC, Indiana and UNLV.^[5] However, he re-opened his recruitment in February 2010, and on April 14, Kanter signed a National Letter of Intent to play college basketball for Kentucky.^[14][18]

However, despite signing with the Kentucky Wildcats, the NCAA declared him permanently ineligible as a collegiate athlete because he received approximately $33,000 from Fenerbahçe in excess benefits. The NCAA ruled that this amount was above and beyond what was considered acceptable.^[19][20][21] On January 7, 2011, the NCAA rejected Kentucky's appeal, upholding that Kanter was permanently ineligible.^[22]

Utah Jazz (2011–2015)

Kanter, a center, was drafted third overall by the Utah Jazz in the 2011 NBA draft. Upon being drafted, he said "I'm so happy, I'm so excited. I know the Utah Jazz fans are crazy and I love them. I will bring the team toughness and post moves, rebounding, everything. I will try to do everything to make the playoffs."^[23] On December 9, 2011, he signed his rookie scale contract with the Jazz following the conclusion of the NBA lockout.^[24] In 2011–12, he became the 10th Jazz rookie in franchise history to appear in every regular-season game. He also recorded the most rebounds for a Jazz rookie in debut with 11 against the Los Angeles Lakers on December 27. In the season, he averaged 4.6 points and 4.2 rebounds in 66 games.

In 2012–13, Kanter improved his averages in every major statistical category, led the team in scoring three times and rebounding four times, and scored in double-figures 22 times. In 70 games (two starts), he averaged 7.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. On March 1, 2013, Kanter had the first 20–20 game of his career with career-highs of 23 points and 22 rebounds to lead the Jazz to a 98–68 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats.^[25] He later missed the final 10 games of the season due to a dislocated left shoulder.

In 2013–14, Kanter appeared in 80 games (37 starts), averaging 12.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. On March 3, 2014, he scored a then career-high 27 points in a 114–88 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.^[26]

On December 16, 2014, Kanter scored a then career-high 29 points in a 119–111 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.^[27]

Oklahoma City Thunder (2015–2017)

On February 19, 2015, Kanter was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a three-team deal that involved the Detroit Pistons.^[28] Two days later, he made his debut for the Thunder, recording a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds in a 110–103 win over the Charlotte Hornets.^[29] On April 1, 2015, he scored a then career-high 30 points in a 135–131 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.^[30]

After the 2014–15 season, Kanter became a restricted free agent. On July 9, 2015, he received a four-year, $70 million offer sheet from the Portland Trail Blazers.^[31] However, three days later, the Thunder exercised their right of first refusal and matched the offer sheet extended to Kanter by the Trail Blazers.^[32] On March 14, 2016, he scored a then season-high 26 points in a 128–94 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.^[33] On April 6, he recorded a career-high 33 points and 20 rebounds in a 120–115 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers,^[34] becoming the first player in Thunder history to score at least 30 points and grab 20 rebounds in a game.^[35] In Game 3 of the Thunder's first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks, Kanter recorded a playoff career-high 21 points and a game-high eight rebounds in a 131–102 win, claiming a 2–1 series lead.^[36] In Game 4 of the series, Kanter helped the Thunder go up 3–1 with 28 points on 12-of-13 shooting, setting a playoff career high for the second straight game.^[37]

On November 28, 2016, Kanter recorded a season-high 27 points and 10 rebounds in a 112–103 win over the New York Knicks.^[38] On January 26, 2017, he sustained a fractured forearm after punching a chair on the Thunder's bench during their game against the Dallas Mavericks. He was subsequently ruled out for six to eight weeks.^[39] He returned to action on February 24, 2017, against the Los Angeles Lakers after missing nine games. He finished with four points on 2-for-12 shooting.^[40]

When Kanter lost his passport and faced being trapped abroad his teammates, Russell Westbrook and Steven Adams, reached out to him to make sure he was okay.^[41]

New York Knicks (2017–2019)

On September 25, 2017, Kanter was traded, along with Doug McDermott and a 2018 second-round pick, to the New York Knicks in exchange for Carmelo Anthony.^[42] In his debut for the Knicks in their season opener on October 19, 2017, Kanter had 10 points and seven rebounds in a 105–84 loss to his former team, the Oklahoma City Thunder.^[43] Five days later, he recorded 16 points and 19 rebounds in a 110–89 loss to the Boston Celtics.^[44] On November 29, 2017, after missing three games with back spasms, Kanter had 22 points and 14 rebounds in a 115–86 win over the Miami Heat.^[45] On December 25, 2017, he had a season-high 31 points and tied a career best with 22 rebounds in a 105–98 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. He joined Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, and Bob Lanier as the only players with a 30–20 game on Christmas.^[46] On January 30, 2018, he recorded 20 points, 20 rebounds and five assists in a 111–95 win over the Brooklyn Nets.^[47] On February 6, 2018, in a 103–89 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, Kanter recorded 19 points and 16 rebounds for his sixth consecutive double-double, marking the longest streak by any Knick since David Lee had seven straight from February 9–26, 2010.^[48] On March 6, 2018, he had 18 points and 11 rebounds in a 111–87 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. It was Kanter's 32nd double-double of the season, a career high.^[49]

On October 19, 2018, Kanter scored 29 points in a 107–105 loss to the Nets.^[50] A day later, he recorded 17 points and 15 rebounds in a 103–101 loss to the Celtics, becoming the first Knick since Zach Randolph (2007–08) to start the season with three straight double-doubles.^[51] On November 5 he recorded 23 points and 24 rebounds in a 116–115 double-overtime loss to the Chicago Bulls.^[52] On November 11, he notched his fifth straight double-double with 16 points and 15 rebounds in a 115–89 loss to the Orlando Magic.^[53] On November 25, recorded 21 points and a career-high 26 rebounds in a 103–98 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.^[54] In late December, Kanter was demoted to a reduced role off the bench.^[55][56][57] Kanter was waived by the Knicks on February 7, 2019.^[58][59] During his last game at Madison Square Garden, Kanter ran out and kissed the court goodbye.^[57]

Portland Trail Blazers (2019)

On February 13, 2019, Kanter signed with the Portland Trail Blazers.^[60] He made his debut for the Trail Blazers on February 21, recording 18 points and nine rebounds off the bench in a 113–99 win over the Brooklyn Nets.^[61] In game one of the Trail Blazers' first-round playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Kanter had 20 points and a career playoff-high 18 rebounds in a 104–99 win, becoming just the third player in team history with at least 20 points and 18 rebounds in playoff game: Bill Walton did it three times and LaMarcus Aldridge once.^[62]

Boston Celtics (2019–2020)

When free agency opened on July 1, 2019, Kanter and the Boston Celtics agreed to a two-year, $10 million contract.^[63] He was officially signed on July 17.^[64] With the Celtics, Kanter averaged 8.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1 assist. His season highs were 22 points, 6 blocks, and 19 rebounds. In the playoffs, he scored a total of 50 points in 11 games, averaging 4.5 points per game.^[65]

Return to Portland (2020–2021)

On November 20, 2020, Kanter was traded back to the Portland Trail Blazers in a three-team trade that also included the Memphis Grizzlies.^[66] On April 10, 2021, in a 118–103 win over the Detroit Pistons, Kanter set a career high and franchise record 30 rebounds, breaking Sidney Wicks record of 27 which he set in 1975. He also scored 24 points in the game, in which he became just the third player in the past 20 years to deliver a 20-point, 30-rebound performance.^[67]

Return to Boston (2021–2022)

On August 13, 2021, Kanter signed a one-year, worth $2.7 million veteran's minimum contract with the Boston Celtics.^[68] Following his American citizen status approval and legal name change later that year on November 29, he would change his jersey name from Kanter to Freedom going forward with the season.

On February 10, 2022, Freedom was traded, along with Dennis Schröder and Bruno Fernando, to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Daniel Theis.^[69] On February 14, the Rockets waived Freedom. Freedom believed he was waived because of his views about the Chinese government. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver denied this claim, saying “I made it absolutely clear to that it was completely within his right to speak out on issues that he was passionate about.”^[70][71][72]

National team career

Kanter made his debut for the Turkish national basketball team at the 2008 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship in Italy. He dominated throughout the tournament, averaging 22.9 points, 16.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 34.6 minutes per game. However, Jonas Valančiūnas was chosen as the MVP after he averaged 14.3 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in 23.5 minutes. Kanter went on to earn MVP honors at the 2009 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship after averaging 18.6 points and 16.4 rebounds while leading Turkey's junior national team to the bronze medal.^[5] He declined to play for the senior national team at the 2010 FIBA World Championship which was being held in Turkey as the team went on to win the silver medal. His father claimed he did this in order not to miss the first month of classes at Kentucky.^[73]

Kanter played with the Turkish senior team for the first time at the 2011 EuroBasket where he was the youngest player to make the team.^[10] He appeared in eight games and averaged 9.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.^[74] Kanter was left off the team's roster for EuroBasket 2015. Kanter alleged that the omission was due to his relationship with Fethullah Gülen and his support of the Gülen movement while coach Ergin Ataman said that Kanter was excluded because "he did not apologize to teammates for past incidents."^[75] Kanter also believes that if he were to go to Turkey to play he would end up in jail, killed by the national government, and a fake poisoning incident would be created.^[41]

Career statistics

NBA

Regular season