Enes Kanter Freedom: “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize why I got little playing time and was released...”

[Zeno]

He is better than DeAndre Jordan I know that much.

If he brings a case to court, DeAndre Jordan is exhibit A-Z.

[Ursusamericanus]

He simply isn't very good and is also a loudmouthed idiot.

[Duke4life831]

I hate the whole "Im being blackballed" angle these guys take. This isnt political, this isnt a racial thing, this isnt a religious thing. Its very basic and simple. If your production on the court/field outweighs the off the court/field circus/distraction then teams will put up with you.

Guess what Tim Tebow would have been a backup or 3rd string QB for awhile if there was no Tebow circus with him. But there was way too much of a distraction with him and he wasn't that good on the field so his career ended very quickly.

If Colin Kaepernick was still Colin Kaepernick of 2013, he would've still had a job in the NFL. But Kaepernick ended up being a bad starting QB over his last 3 years in the NFL. He ended up being benched for freaking Blaine Gabbert. Was he still good enough to be on a NFL roster? Yup. But guess what, no one wants a backup QB that will bring a media circus and distraction to your team. So the distraction outweighed the impact. And if Enes was still a 24/11 on high end efficiency for per 36, he would still be on a roster right now.

There are countless more examples especially with the NFL diva WRs where teams put up with over the top diva WRs while they're still elite, but the second they're no longer elite they get passed around because no one wants them. Meyers Leonard would still be on a roster if he didnt do his dumbass thing.

There are countless examples of guys of different races, different political views and so on. None of these guys were blackballed. The common denominator for all of them is that their off court distractions outweighed their on the court/field production/impact. Its as simple as that. Teams try to avoid distractions when they can, they're not going to take on bench players that bring distractions to the team. Its pretty simple.

[kenwood3333]

He can't be any worse than Udonis Haslem right?

[C3H6N6O6]

Have to give him credit for speaking the truth about China when millions are on the line, Lebron certainly wouldn't.

Jesus Christ talk about living rent free in another person's head

He only said it because LeBron is certifiably an immoral coward. Got nothing to do with BBall. He's good at Ball. But a hypocrite in real life.

"I will not just shut up and dribble," James said. " So, thank you, whatever her name is. ... I get to sit up here and talk about what's really important "

Talk about what's really important, until it messes with his millions lmao.

He is right about LeBron.
Kanter is himself a big hypocrite though. Mingling about absolutely morally bankrupt US politicians is a bad look.
You can't call out China for human right violations while praising the US. Top US politicians on both side are absolutely morally bankrupt given how many lives they have destroyed in other countries for absolutely no reason other than greed.

[JonFromVA]

I just assumed he was out of the league because of his defense and the affect it was having on his impact, but he's had a very nice OnCourt and On-Off numbers for Boston and Portland over the past 3 seasons.

He may have a point, or maybe GM's are just assuming he's awful like we are and/or not valuing rebounding.

[lamscott]

I want to talk crap but then the Lakers signed DJ. So.....

[Mavrelous]

Kanter is preparing for his next career, which will be in politics, he's pumping the narrative he's being targeted because of his outspoken criticism of China, I've seen much worse self promotion TBH.

[KembaWalker]

sure doesn't, Enes

[Lockdown504090]

It’s not an either or thing. It’s about how much of him not playing is about things other than basketball.

[kg01]

I hate the whole "Im being blackballed" angle these guys take. This isnt political, this isnt a racial thing, this isnt a religious thing. Its very basic and simple. If your production on the court/field outweighs the off the court/field circus/distraction then teams will put up with you.

blah, blah, blah ...

This shuts down the whole thread.... oh and I totally read the rest of your post too, bro. Totally.

[LloydFree]

Crazy how differently his career could've gone had he come into the league 10+ years earlier, cause the man had a soft touch around the rim, the power to muscle through a lot of NBAers on his way to the hoop, and a good sense for offensive rebounds.

But life in the NBA has become really rough on the lead-footed post-up big if...like enes...they can't shoot, pass, or defend.

I don't think this era of basketball has been that unkind to him as compared to other Centers. If Dwight Howard would have come in 10 years earlier, he would have cruised onto the All-time 75 anniversary team. If Andre Drummond would have been in in the league 20 years earlier, he's an easy 1st ballot Hall of Famer.

[Bad-Thoma]

He didn't play because he is a terrible team defender and the C's switch almost everything. He can defend a post up at a non-horrible level but other than that he's either a turnstile or backing off so opponents get wide open jumpers. I respect his outspokenness but it didn't have anything to do with his playing time. We had better bench players at the beginning of the year that didn't see the floor either.

[Cartuse]

It's an unpopular sentiment these days, but sometimes you're not a victim, you're just incompetent.

are those racist undertones I hear??

[Wallace_Wallace]

When your off the court issues (opinions, entitlements, salary) outweigh your on the court production, your service will no longer be needed.

Still think you're starter and deserve starter minutes (Allen Iverson)? No need to announce your retirement
You think your salary is too low cause you got a family to feed (Latrell Sprewell)? No need to announce your retirement
You want to talk smack to one of the best players in the league, have a political opinion? You better at least have a Nurkic (middle of the pack starter) type production, or else there is no need to announce his retirement as well.

Plenty more examples in the NFL, close your eyes and pick your typical diva WRs (AB, TO, Ocho-Cinco, Keyshawn Johnson, etc.)

[sp6r=underrated]

I'm not going to speak specifically about Enes or Kaepernick. Whenever you discuss them it turns into a battle over the individual rather than the more important higher level discussion.

The biggest threat to freedom of expression in the US is your employer. If your company does a lot of business in China and you speak out about abuses, you're risking your job. If you do business with a consumer base and ownership that has a lot of cultural conservatives you risk your career when you speak about racial issues. If you work in the arts and are anti-abortion, you're risking your career.

Businesses like to make money. And owners/employees/customers prefer to work with people who share their values. If you differ you are at risk.

[YogurtProducer]

This is a constant theme in the NBA. We have great character guys who constantly get minutes (But are scrubs and do not add value on the court) and guys with bad attitudes that obviously have talent but are shunned, and usually never get another contract. This even extends to GM's (Hinkie) and even owners.

I don't follow Kanter's off court antics very much but I see he has spoken against things the NBA does not stand with, so he is being blackballed. It is unfortunate for him but what did he expect? This is how the NBA is under Adam Silver.

Yeah, there was never a player blackballed before Silvers time

[XTC]

Dude just got phased put of the NBA

15 years ago him , Drummond, and Greg Monroe would have been borderline allstars. Jonas Valanciunas is another example, but he changed and adapted his game to the modern NBA while the former never did and 2/3 got phased out of the NBA.

[thamadkant]

Maybe turning into a wingnut who hangs out with disgraced neoconservatives and right wing propogandists isnt making him that many friends either.

He's been acting like an activist for sure, but LeBron has been doing the same thing just that both clash in their stance regarding China.... so I take it that you are pro China?

[Tracymcgoaty]

This dude is a washed up scrub who doesn't have friendships with superstars to waste his washed up ass on a team. And he knows it but masks him being a scrub as NBA blackballing him.

No Kanter you scrub Blackballed is what happened to Jeremy **** Lin.