Enes Kanter Freedom facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Enes Kanter Freedom

Freedom with the Boston Celtics in 2021
Center
Personal information
Born	(1992-05-20) May 20, 1992 (age 33) Zürich, Switzerland
Nationality	Turkish/Swiss/American
High school	Stoneridge Preparatory School (Simi Valley, California)
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; 2011–2022
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
Medals Men's basketball Representing  Turkey FIBA Europe U18 Championship Bronze 2009 France Team

Enes Kanter Freedom (born Enes Kanter on May 20, 1992) is a Turkish-American former professional basketball player. He played the center position in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for teams like the Utah Jazz and Boston Celtics.

Born in Switzerland to Turkish parents, Freedom grew up in Turkey before moving to the United States as a teenager to follow his basketball dreams. He was the third overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft.

Besides basketball, Freedom is a well-known human rights activist. He often speaks out against human rights problems around the world, especially in China and his home country of Turkey. He even had a brief, championship-winning appearance in WWE.

Early Life and Move to America

Enes Kanter Freedom was born in Zürich, Switzerland. His parents were from Turkey. His father, Mehmet, is a doctor, and his mother, Gülsüm, is a nurse. The family moved back to Turkey when Enes was young, and he grew up there with his three younger siblings.

As a teenager, he was a talented basketball player in Istanbul. At age 17, he moved to the United States to play basketball and get a better education. He attended a few different high schools, but because he had played for a professional team's youth squad in Turkey, he faced challenges playing high school basketball in the U.S.

He eventually played for Stoneridge Preparatory School in California. He was rated as a top "five-star" player, which is the highest rating for a young prospect.

College Career Controversy

Freedom planned to play college basketball for the famous Kentucky Wildcats. However, the NCAA, which governs college sports, said he was not allowed to play.

The NCAA ruled that because the Turkish club Fenerbahçe had paid him about $33,000, he was considered a professional player. This meant he was "ineligible" to play in college, which is only for amateur athletes. Even though Kentucky appealed the decision, the NCAA did not change its mind.

NBA Career

Utah Jazz (2011–2015)

Kanter at the 2011 NBA draft.

Despite not playing in college, Freedom's talent was clear. The Utah Jazz selected him with the third overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft. "I'm so happy," he said. "I will bring the team toughness and post moves, rebounding, everything."

In his first season, he played in every game. Over the next few years, his skills improved. On March 1, 2013, he had an amazing game against the Charlotte Bobcats, scoring 23 points and grabbing 22 rebounds.

Oklahoma City Thunder (2015–2017)

Kanter (right) defends the basket during a game in March 2014.

In 2015, Freedom was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He played alongside superstars like Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant. He quickly became a key player for the team.

On April 6, 2016, he had the best game of his career, scoring 33 points and getting 20 rebounds against the Portland Trail Blazers. He was the first player in Thunder history to have a "30-20" game. He also played well in the playoffs, helping the Thunder reach the Western Conference Finals.

New York Knicks (2017–2019)

In 2017, Freedom was traded to the New York Knicks. Playing in the famous Madison Square Garden, he became a fan favorite for his hard work and rebounding.

On Christmas Day in 2017, he had 31 points and 22 rebounds. He became one of only four players in NBA history to have a "30-20" game on Christmas. He set a career high with 32 double-doubles (games with at least 10 points and 10 rebounds) in one season.

Portland and Boston (2019–2022)

Kanter playing for the New York Knicks in 2018.

After leaving the Knicks, Freedom signed with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2019. He helped them make a deep run in the playoffs. In one playoff game, he had 20 points and 18 rebounds.

He then played for the Boston Celtics, returned to Portland for a season, and then went back to Boston. While with Portland in 2021, he set a team record by grabbing 30 rebounds in a single game.

In February 2022, he was traded to the Houston Rockets, who then waived him, making him a free agent.

Activism and Speaking Out

Criticism of Turkey's Government

Freedom has been a strong critic of the government in his home country of Turkey, especially its president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Because of his views, the Turkish government canceled his passport in 2017 while he was traveling overseas. He was temporarily stuck in Romania before he could safely return to the U.S.

Turkey later issued a warrant for his arrest, and he has not been able to return to his home country or see his family. He says he cannot contact them because he fears they will be punished. In 2023, the Turkish government put a bounty on him, offering money for his capture. Freedom has said, "The only thing I terrorize is the basketball rim."

Speaking Out on China

Freedom is also known for speaking out against the Chinese government's treatment of the Uyghurs, a minority group in China. He has worn special shoes during NBA games with messages like "Free Tibet" and "Free Uyghurs" to bring attention to the issue.

His comments led the Chinese government to stop broadcasting Boston Celtics games in China. Freedom has continued to call on athletes and companies to stop supporting the Chinese government until it improves its human rights record.

Personal Life

• In 2021, Freedom officially became an American citizen. To celebrate, he legally changed his last name from Kanter to Freedom.
• He has said he learned English by watching cartoons like SpongeBob SquarePants.
• In 2020, he started eating a plant-based diet.
• Freedom runs free basketball camps for kids across the United States every summer.

Wrestling Champion

Freedom is a big fan of professional wrestling. In 2019, he made a surprise appearance at a WWE event in Madison Square Garden. He pinned the wrestler R-Truth to briefly become the 24/7 Champion before R-Truth won the title back moments later.

Career statistics

NBA

Regular season

Playoffs

EuroLeague

See also

In Spanish: Enes Kanter Freedom para niños