Former NBA star's activism shifts from defying autocrats to targeting transgender people
The author recalls witnessing Enes Kanter seek asylum in the US in 2017 after defying Turkey's president, a moment of courage that cost him dearly. Now, Kanter is using his platform to mock transgender people, including a heated exchange with WNBA player Natasha Cloud, which the author sees as a troubling departure from his earlier principled stance.
Kanter's 2017 asylum plea followed a harrowing journey through Indonesia, Singapore, and Germany before Romanian authorities detained him over Turkey's passport cancellation. His opposition to President Erdogan and support for exiled cleric Fethullah Gülen triggered Turkish warrants, an Interpol notice, and his father's eventual arrest and acquittal on terrorism charges.
After gaining US citizenship in 2021 and legally adding "Freedom" to his name, Kanter attended Sunday's WNBA game wearing a shirt declaring "WOMAN noun. adult human female." He exchanged heated words with Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud, and the team subsequently banned him from home games, calling him a potential threat.
This story may signal how political dissenters, once celebrated for courage, can redirect their platform toward marginalized groups. Transgender people, particularly athletes, could face increased harassment when prominent figures mock their identities in public venues. The incident may also affect Kanter's credibility as a human rights advocate, potentially diminishing the moral authority he earned through his earlier activism.