Enes Kanter Freedom facts for kids
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Freedom with the Boston Celtics in 2021
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| Free agent | ||||||||||||||
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| Center | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
| Born | May 20, 1992 Zürich, Switzerland |
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| Nationality | Turkish/American | |||||||||||||
| High school | Stoneridge Preparatory School (Simi Valley, California) |
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| Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) | |||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 250 lb (113 kg) | |||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||
| College | Kentucky | |||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 2011 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3rd overall | |||||||||||||
| Selected by the Utah Jazz | ||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 2008–2009; 2011–present | |||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||||
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Enes Kanter Freedom (born May 20, 1992, as Enes Kanter) is a Turkish-American professional basketball player. He last played for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Enes is also known for his short career in professional wrestling, where he even won the WWE 24/7 Championship.
Born in Switzerland to Turkish parents, he grew up in Turkey before moving to the United States as a teenager. Enes was picked third overall in the 2011 NBA draft by the Utah Jazz. He usually plays as a center, which is a position close to the basket.
Beyond sports, Enes Freedom is a strong voice for human rights. He is famous for his "freedom shoes" and for speaking out against human rights problems in places like China. He especially cares about the treatment of the Uyghurs people and the use of forced labor.
Contents
- Early Years and Moving to the US
- Professional Basketball Career
- Early Start in Turkey
- Playing for the Utah Jazz (2011–2015)
- Moving to the Oklahoma City Thunder (2015–2017)
- Playing for the New York Knicks (2017–2019)
- Time with the Portland Trail Blazers (2019)
- Joining the Boston Celtics (2019–2020)
- Return to Portland (2020–2021)
- Second Time with the Boston Celtics (2021–2022)
- Playing for His Home Country
- Career Statistics
- Professional Wrestling Fun
- Awards and Achievements
- Speaking Out for Human Rights
- Personal Life
- Helping Others
- See also
- Further information
Early Years and Moving to the US
Enes Kanter Freedom was born on May 20, 1992, in Zürich, Switzerland. His parents are Turkish. His father, Mehmet Kanter, was a professor at a university in Turkey, and his mother, Gülsüm Kanter, is a nurse. Enes grew up in Turkey with his two younger brothers and one sister. One of his brothers, Kerem Kanter, also became a basketball player.
When Enes was 17, he moved to the United States to play basketball. He went to a few different schools to play, including Stoneridge Preparatory School in Simi Valley, California. He was able to play basketball there for one season.
Professional Basketball Career
Early Start in Turkey
Before coming to the US, Enes played for the Fenerbahçe youth team in Turkey from 2006 to 2008. In the 2008–09 season, he was a reserve player for the Fenerbahçe senior team. He played in a few games in the EuroLeague and the Turkish Super League.
Enes was offered professional contracts by Fenerbahçe and a Greek team, but he turned them down. He wanted to play high school and college basketball in the United States instead.
In 2009, Enes moved to the US and played for Stoneridge Preparatory School. In 2010, he played in the Nike Hoop Summit for the international team. He scored 34 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, which was a record for the event!
He first planned to play college basketball for the Washington Huskies, but later decided to play for Kentucky. However, the NCAA (the organization that oversees college sports) said he couldn't play. This was because he had received money from Fenerbahçe that was considered more than what was allowed for college athletes.
Playing for the Utah Jazz (2011–2015)
In the 2011 NBA draft, Enes was picked third overall by the Utah Jazz. He was very excited to join the team. In his first season (2011–12), he played in every game, which is rare for a rookie. He averaged 4.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.
In the 2012–13 season, Enes got even better. He averaged 7.2 points and 4.3 rebounds. On March 1, 2013, he had an amazing game with 23 points and 22 rebounds! This is called a "20-20 game" and it was the first of his career.
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For the 2013–14 season, Enes averaged 12.3 points and 7.5 rebounds. He scored a career-high 27 points in one game. In December 2014, he scored a new career-high of 29 points.
Moving to the Oklahoma City Thunder (2015–2017)
In February 2015, Enes was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He quickly made an impact, scoring 10 points and grabbing 13 rebounds in his first game with the team. On April 1, 2015, he set another career-high with 30 points.
The Thunder kept Enes by matching a big contract offer from another team. In March 2016, he scored 26 points against the Portland Trail Blazers. A month later, he had an incredible game with 33 points and 20 rebounds! He was the first Thunder player ever to score at least 30 points and get 20 rebounds in one game.
In January 2017, Enes broke his arm after hitting a chair on the team's bench. He missed several games but returned to play in February. His teammates, Russell Westbrook and Steven Adams, reached out to him when he had passport issues later on, showing their support.
Playing for the New York Knicks (2017–2019)
In September 2017, Enes was traded to the New York Knicks. In his first game, he played against his old team, the Thunder. He had 10 points and 7 rebounds.
He had many strong games with the Knicks. On December 25, 2017 (Christmas Day), he scored 31 points and tied his career-best with 22 rebounds. He joined famous players like Wilt Chamberlain to have a "30-20 game" on Christmas. In January 2018, he had another 20-point, 20-rebound game.
In October 2018, Enes started the season with three straight games where he scored double-digits in points and rebounds. On November 25, he set a new career-high with 26 rebounds in a game. He was later waived by the Knicks in February 2019.
Time with the Portland Trail Blazers (2019)
Enes signed with the Portland Trail Blazers in February 2019. In his first playoff game with the Blazers, he had 20 points and 18 rebounds. This was a playoff career-high for him in rebounds.
Joining the Boston Celtics (2019–2020)
In July 2019, Enes signed a two-year contract with the Boston Celtics. He averaged 8.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game with the Celtics.
Return to Portland (2020–2021)
In November 2020, Enes was traded back to the Portland Trail Blazers. On April 10, 2021, he had an amazing game where he set a new career-high and a franchise record for the Trail Blazers with 30 rebounds! He also scored 24 points in that game. He was only the third player in 20 years to have a game with at least 20 points and 30 rebounds.
Second Time with the Boston Celtics (2021–2022)
In August 2021, Enes signed another contract with the Boston Celtics. In February 2022, he was traded to the Houston Rockets, but the Rockets waived him (released him from his contract) a few days later. Enes believed this happened because of his strong opinions about the Chinese government. However, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said that Enes had every right to speak out and that his activism was not why he was waived.
Playing for His Home Country
Enes first played for the Turkish national basketball team at the 2008 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship. He played very well in that tournament. In 2009, he was named the MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship, helping Turkey win a bronze medal.
He played with the senior Turkish team for the first time in 2011. He was the youngest player on the team. He was not chosen for the team in 2015. Enes said this was because of his connection to a religious movement, but the coach said it was because Enes didn't apologize to his teammates for past issues.
Career Statistics
NBA
Regular season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–12 | Utah | 66* | 0 | 13.2 | .496 | .000 | .667 | 4.2 | .1 | .3 | .3 | 4.6 |
| 2012–13 | Utah | 70 | 2 | 15.4 | .544 | 1.000 | .795 | 4.3 | .4 | .4 | .5 | 7.2 |
| 2013–14 | Utah | 80 | 37 | 26.7 | .491 | .000 | .730 | 7.5 | .9 | .4 | .5 | 12.3 |
| 2014–15 | Utah | 49 | 48 | 27.1 | .491 | .317 | .788 | 7.8 | .5 | .5 | .3 | 13.8 |
| Oklahoma City | 26 | 26 | 31.1 | .566 | .750 | .776 | 11.0 | 1.1 | .5 | .5 | 18.7 | |
| 2015–16 | Oklahoma City | 82* | 1 | 21.0 | .576 | .476 | .797 | 8.1 | .4 | .3 | .4 | 12.7 |
| 2016–17 | Oklahoma City | 72 | 0 | 21.3 | .545 | .132 | .786 | 6.7 | .9 | .4 | .5 | 14.3 |
| 2017–18 | New York | 71 | 71 | 25.8 | .592 | .000 | .848 | 11.0 | 1.5 | .5 | .5 | 14.1 |
| 2018–19 | New York | 44 | 23 | 25.6 | .536 | .318 | .814 | 10.5 | 1.9 | .4 | .4 | 14.0 |
| Portland | 23 | 8 | 22.3 | .577 | .250 | .735 | 8.6 | 1.4 | .6 | .4 | 13.1 | |
| 2019–20 | Boston | 58 | 7 | 16.9 | .572 | .143 | .707 | 7.4 | 1.0 | .4 | .7 | 8.1 |
| 2020–21 | Portland | 72* | 35 | 24.4 | .604 | .250 | .774 | 11.0 | 1.2 | .5 | .7 | 11.2 |
| 2021–22 | Boston | 35 | 1 | 11.7 | .526 | .400 | .857 | 4.6 | .2 | .1 | .4 | 3.7 |
| Career | 748 | 259 | 21.5 | .548 | .289 | .777 | 7.8 | .9 | .4 | .5 | 11.2 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Utah | 4 | 0 | 10.8 | .438 | — | .000 | 4.0 | .3 | .0 | 1.0 | 3.5 |
| 2016 | Oklahoma City | 18 | 0 | 18.0 | .551 | .143 | .844 | 6.2 | .3 | .3 | .6 | 9.4 |
| 2017 | Oklahoma City | 5 | 0 | 9.1 | .385 | — | 1.000 | 1.8 | .2 | .0 | .8 | 4.8 |
| 2019 | Portland | 16 | 14 | 28.8 | .514 | .250 | .756 | 9.7 | 1.2 | .7 | .6 | 11.4 |
| 2020 | Boston | 11 | 0 | 9.3 | .524 | 1.000 | .500 | 3.9 | .6 | .0 | .0 | 4.5 |
| 2021 | Portland | 5 | 0 | 11.2 | .500 | — | 1.000 | 2.6 | .0 | .0 | .4 | 2.0 |
| Career | 59 | 14 | 17.5 | .514 | .211 | .777 | 5.9 | .6 | .3 | .5 | 7.6 | |
EuroLeague
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG | PIR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008–09 | Fenerbahçe | 4 | 0 | 7.8 | .429 | .000 | .667 | 1.5 | .0 | .3 | .0 | 2.0 | 1.8 |
Professional Wrestling Fun
Enes Kanter Freedom is a big fan of professional wrestling. He has even said he might want to become a wrestler someday!
On September 9, 2019, Enes made a special appearance at a WWE Monday Night Raw show. He actually won the WWE 24/7 Championship from another wrestler, R-Truth, but then lost it back to him moments later. It was a fun moment for wrestling fans!
Championships and Accomplishments
- WWE
- WWE 24/7 Championship (1 time)
Awards and Achievements
Human Rights Awards
- 2022 Courage Award
- 2022 Václav Havel International Prize
- IRF Summit Impact Award
- 2022 Lantos Human Rights Prize
- Most Valuable Patriot Of The Year
- 2022 Humanitarian Award
- Warrior for Truth Award
- 2023 Gentleman of Distinction Award
- Ronald Reagan Freedom Award
- Magnitsky Outstanding Human Rights Activist
- Freedom Award
- Digest of Human Rights Award
- Hardwired for Freedom Award for Human Rights
- AHEPA Human Rights Award
- Captive Nations Freedom Award
Basketball Awards
- Maurice Lucas The Enforcer Award
- 2009 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship MVP
- 2008 Albert Schweitzer Tournament Most Talented Player
Basketball Achievements
- Portland Trail Blazers franchise record of 30 rebounds in a single game (against Detroit on April 10, 2021).
Speaking Out for Human Rights
His Views on Turkey
Enes Freedom has been very open about his opinions on the government in Turkey. He became critical of the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in 2013. He also supports a group called the Gülen movement, which focuses on education and helping others.
Because of his views, Enes faced many challenges. His family in Turkey publicly distanced themselves from him. His father was even questioned by the government. Enes couldn't contact his family because he worried it would put them in danger. The Turkish government canceled his passport and even tried to have him arrested. This meant Enes became stateless, meaning he didn't belong to any country.
In January 2023, the Turkish government even put a large reward on Enes Freedom's head. Enes responded by saying, "The only thing I terrorize is the basketball rim."
Travel Challenges
Because of his activism, Enes has faced problems traveling. In May 2017, while on a basketball tour in Asia, his Turkish passport was canceled. He was stuck in Romania for a short time before being able to fly back to the United States. While he was stuck, he posted on social media, and the hashtag #FreeEnes became very popular.
Later, in 2019, he decided not to travel with his NBA teams to games in Europe or Canada. This was because he feared for his safety. The FBI even gave him a special device to contact them quickly if he felt he was in danger.
His Views on Israel
Enes Freedom has also spoken about the situation in Israel. He condemned the actions of Hamas, a group that attacked Israel. He also criticized the Turkish president for not calling Hamas a terrorist group.
However, Enes has also spoken out against the Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip. He said that "Children and innocent people do not deserve to be punished." He believes that even in wars, there are rules that everyone must follow.
Speaking Out Against China
In October 2021, Enes Freedom called Chinese leader Xi Jinping a "brutal dictator." He also showed his support for the Free Tibet movement. Because of his comments, the Chinese government stopped showing all Boston Celtics games.
He also led a rally to ask the US government to pass a law against products made with forced labor in China. This was to help the Uyghurs and other minority groups who are treated unfairly in China.
In November 2021, Enes spoke on TV, asking people to boycott the 2022 Winter Olympics in China. The United States later announced that it would not send government officials to the games, which is called a diplomatic boycott.
After Enes was released from his last NBA team, he said he believed it was because of his activism against China. However, the NBA and Commissioner Adam Silver have said this is not true.
His Views on the United States
Enes Freedom has met with several US politicians. He even plans to run for Congress in 2028, once he has been a US citizen for seven years.
Personal Life
Enes has shared some interesting facts about his life. He once wrote about how challenging it was to observe Ramadan (a time of fasting for Muslims) while playing in the NBA playoffs.
He also said that he learned English by watching cartoons like SpongeBob SquarePants and the TV show Jersey Shore.
In 2020, he started eating a plant-based diet and hopes to become fully vegan.
On November 29, 2021, Enes became an American citizen. To mark this special occasion, he legally changed his name to Enes Kanter Freedom.
Helping Others
Enes Freedom is also known for his charity work. In the summer of 2018, he held 16 free basketball camps across the United States for kids. He also started a fundraiser to help people affected by wildfires in Greece. In 2019, he hosted 50 free basketball camps, and he planned even more for 2020.
See also
In Spanish: Enes Kanter Freedom para niños
- List of NBA career field goal percentage leaders
- List of NBA single-game rebounding leaders
- List of youngest EuroLeague players
Further information
