Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom, who was once celebrated for his courageous opposition to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is now being criticized for using his platform to mock transgender people, according to a new op-ed in the Guardian.
The op-ed, written by Bryan Armen Graham, recalls a 2017 news conference where Kanter, then 25, asked America to take him in after Turkey canceled his passport. Graham describes how Kanter feared being sent to Turkey, where he said no one might hear from him again. Kanter called Erdoğan the "Hitler of our century" and recounted daily death threats and family jeopardy due to his opposition.
Kanter became a US citizen in 2021 and legally added Freedom to his name. The op-ed contrasts his past advocacy with his recent behavior, noting that he now uses vulnerable people to attract attention.
Courtside Provocation
On Sunday, Kanter sat courtside at a Chicago Sky game against the Indiana Fever wearing a shirt reading: "WOMAN noun. adult human female." He joined a rally outside the arena in support of Sophie Cunningham, a Fever guard who opposes transgender participation in women's sports. Kanter also declared himself eligible for the 2027 WNBA draft, claiming to identify as a woman, though league sources have dismissed this as a publicity stunt.
According to Talking Points Memo, the Trump-aligned America First Policy Institute (AFPI) promoted Kanter's arrival, circulated footage of his ejection, and began selling a $45 "Let Freedom Play" sweatshirt featuring him. An AFPI executive was seated near him. Kanter, who attended the 2024 State of the Union as House speaker Mike Johnson's guest, has said he plans to run for Congress in 2028.
Criticism and Irony
The op-ed argues that Kanter's stunt depends on the idea that gender identity is inherently fraudulent and that trans women are opportunistic men. It notes that no player assigned male at birth has ever competed in the WNBA. The piece also highlights that ESPN's WNBA coverage is averaging 1.4 million viewers, up 16% from last season, and that Kanter's stunt has hijacked the league's growth story.
During the game, Sky guard Natasha Cloud approached Kanter, yelling and pointing. Kanter stood and stepped onto the court before security intervened. The op-ed concludes that Kanter's freedom includes the right to make a cruel spectacle of himself, but it does not exempt the spectacle from judgment.
