Boston Celtics big man Enes Kanter has been outspoken against totalitarian regimes and human rights violations. His latest comments had consequences, though.
Getty Enes Kanter is introduced as a member of the Boston Celtics at a press conference in 2019. Hapless though they were last season, the Boston Celtics may just be one of the must-see teams of 2021-22. After an eventful summer, the club suddenly finds itself with a revitalized front office, a new head coach, a retooled roster and storylines aplenty. More than anything, though, hope has returned to the Massachusetts Bay. It’s a mix that is generating interest around the basketball world. However, hoops fans in at least one country are going to have a tough time checking in on the Beantowners after comments made by Celtics big man Enes Kanter had some unintended consequences. As reported by the New York Times on Thursday, the Celtics have been pulled from broadcast by Tencent, the NBA’s streaming partner in China. That move came in the wake of an October 20 Facebook post by Kanter criticizing Chinese President Xi Jinping and standing in support of a free Tibet. The 29-year-old Kanter, who has also played for the Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks and Portland Trail Blazers, is no stranger to speaking out against injustice.
