NBA star Enes Kanter adding ‘Freedom’ to name when he becomes US citizen

Boston Celtics centre Enes Kanter will become an American citizen later this week, and with it, will take on a “cringe” new name.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 27: Enes Kanter #13 of the Boston Celtics reacts before the game against the Washington Wizards at TD Garden on October 27, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)

Enes Kanter becomes an American citizen on Monday, and with it, will take a new name.

Kanter will change his name to Enes Kanter Freedom, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania. The Celtics centre retweeted Charania’s report, seemingly confirming the news.

As reported by the New York Post, it’s the latest in a series of high-profile moves from Kanter, who has called for freeing Tibet and blasted Chinese president Xi Jinping, LeBron James and Nets owner Joe Tsai.

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Kanter, whose advocacy started after a public spat with Turkish dictator Tayyip Erdogan, has been vocal in calling out China’s human rights abuses. As a result, the country has banned Celtics games from its airwaves.

In the case of Tsai, Kanter called the Nets owner “spineless” on Twitter. Tsai, who co-founded the Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba, called Hong Kong protesters “separatist” two years ago.

As for James, who criticised Sixers GM Daryl Morey following his support of protesters in Hong Kong, Kanter tweeted, “Money over Morals for the ‘King.’ Sad and disgusting how these athletes pretend they care about social justice.”

“They really do ‘shut up & dribble’ when Big Boss says so,” he said in a later tweet. “Did you educate yourself about the slave labour that made your shoes or is that not part of your research?”

News correspondent and former Miss New Jersey Sameera Khan tweeted: “Enes Kanter changing his surname to ‘Freedom’ is so damn cringe holy s**t.”

Enes Kanter of the Boston Celtics. Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

A view of the shoes worn by Enes Kanter, which read “Free Uyghur”. Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Kanter also told CNN that he was asked not to wear “Free Tibet” shoes before the Celtics’ opener against the Knicks, but did so anyway.

Changing his name will presumably result in “Freedom” being on the back of his jersey, perhaps bringing more awareness to his activism.

This article originally appeared on the New York Post and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as NBA star Enes Kanter adding ‘Freedom’ to name when he becomes US citizen