When the Boston Celtics signed a new center in August 2021, they were signing a Turkish player by the name of Enes Kanter. Today, that same center is a newly minted American citizen whose legal name is Enes Kanter Freedom, and he has become one of the boldest, most courageous, and passionate voices speaking out against human rights abuses in China and elsewhere in the world.
Enes Kanter Freedom has long been a vocal critic of Turkish President Erdogan’s human rights violations, but this past year he has shown great moral courage by speaking up for self-determination in Taiwan and Hong Kong, as well as protesting the repression of Tibetan Buddhists and the genocide being carried out against the Uyghurs of Xinjiang. His bravery in using his platform as an NBA player to shine a spotlight on these and other issues should be applauded, encouraged and supported. However, perhaps unsurprisingly, it has earned him a great deal of backlash, including having his Turkish passport revoked by the Erdogan regime. Here in the United States, he has met with limited support and even outright resistance from the NBA, which appears ever more beholden to the economic might of China and the ruling Chinese Communist Party. Rather than urging other athletes to follow his brave example, reports allege that the NBA asked Kanter Freedom not to wear his now iconic “Free Tibet” shoes during the Celtics season opener.
As the Boston Celtics contemplate whether to release Kanter Freedom as a free agent, the Lantos Foundation strongly urges Celtics CEO Wycliffe Grousbeck to do the right thing and ensure that this player, who is a credit to both his team and to his new country, does not lose his place in the NBA as a punishment for his outspoken advocacy. By standing with Kanter Freedom, the Celtics would send a powerful message that they refuse to bend to the whims of brutal dictators like Xi Jinping and that they have a sincere respect for fundamental human rights and the dignity of all people. This is a particularly important message to send, with the Opening Ceremonies of the 2022 Winter Olympics scheduled to take place in Beijing in less than a month.
Now, more than ever, people in positions of influence and power, like Mr. Grousbeck, must put values, morals and human rights ahead of profit – and he must do so by standing with Kanter Freedom. If he does, we hope it will signal to other athletes that if they have the moral courage to use their platform and influence for good, their organizations will have their backs. That would perhaps be the most important impact of all, leading to a proliferation of powerful athlete advocates for human rights. This is the legacy that Mr. Grousbeck and the Celtics could begin to build by securing Enes Kanter Freedom’s place on their team.