Enes Kanter Freedom takes WNBA player to task for her America-bashing: 'I’ll buy your ticket and we can go together to count[r]ies like China, Russia, IRAN ...'



NBA star and former professional wrestler Enes Kanter Freedom took a Democratic WNBA player to task Monday over her recent anti-American screed, stressing that she is "lucky and blessed" to live in a country where such open scorn and ingratitude are not met with any meaningful consequence.

What's the background?

TheBlaze previously reported that Natasha Cloud, a 31-year-old guard on the Washington Mystics, sounded off after the Supreme Court's impactful rulings Friday, calling the U.S. "trash in so many ways."

Cloud took issue in part with the court's ruling on affirmative action, suggesting on Instagram that by preventing colleges from reducing human beings to their immutable characteristics and consigning them to racial categories as part of their admissions processes, the country was "moving backwards."

The WNBA player also bemoaned the court's decision in 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, which prevented Colorado from forcing Christian graphic designer Lorie Smith to create art that violates her religious beliefs.

That the Supreme Court would affirm a fellow American's First Amendment rights prompted Cloud to conclude, "Our country is literally in shambles in a lot of areas and we continue on attacking black and LGBTQ+ lives. This country is a f***ing joke."

"That is America. We are a hateful disappointment," continued the 31-year-old lesbian. "I feel like I'm gonna see a civil war in my lifetime."

Extra to Cloud's subliminal threat of domestic warfare and repeated suggestion that America fails to live up to her standards, the basketball player added, "Systemic racism still thrives."

The grass is always greener

Freedom — an outspoken critic of totalitarian regimes, including at least one that pursued Cloud's longed-for equity program to its logical conclusion — confronted the WNBA player online, noting, "People have NO idea how lucky and blessed they are to be in a country like America."

The Turkish-raised NBA star, who added "Freedom" to his name upon becoming a U.S. citizen in 2021, prompted Cloud to ask her "colleague Brittney Griner how 'trash' America is."

Griner, an WNBA player for the Phoenix Mercury, returned home from Russia, where she spent 10 months in prison with a newfound sense of appreciation for the country she had bad-mouthed and whose national anthem she had protested.

TheBlaze previously reported that Griner stood tall in May with teammates during the national anthem in her first game back at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

“Hearing the national anthem, it definitely hit different,” Griner told reporters after the Mercury game.

Besides implying that Griner's insights might help remedy Cloud's apparent deficit of patriotism, Freedom wrote, "Calling America trash huh? Let me know when your season is over, I’ll buy your ticket and we can go together to counties [sic] like China, Russia, IRAN, North Korea, Venezuela, Cuba, & Turkey."

"Forget about calling them trash, I would like to see if you can even criticize those regimes," he continued. "You and your family members would be thrown in jail, tortured to death, and raped. People have NO idea how lucky and blessed they are to be in a country like America. I’m not saying America is perfect, but trust me, you don’t wanna see the other side."

Upon becoming an American citizen, Freedom told CNN, "Here [in the U.S.] there is freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of expression, freedom of the press. ... I didn't have any of those with Turkey."

Freedom recently told OutKick that for his criticism of Turkey, "I got 12 arrest warning[s] in nine years. I actually have a bounty on my head. They put my name on Interpol lists. They put my name on the most-wanted terrorist lists — just because I was talking about the human rights violations that are happening in Turkey. I was talking about the political prisoners."

— (@)

Freedom is not just cognizant of the absence of his namesake in the nation where he was raised but also in other major nations around the world.

Despite NBA owners' extensive investments in China and significant pressure from corporations and Beijing, Freedom spoke out against the Chinese regime's genocide of Uyghurs in Xinjiang, its use of forced labor, and its violation of Tibetan sovereignty, reported CNN Business.

Cloud pre-empted Freedom's response and recommendations, tweeting Saturday, "I’m blessed to travel the world for my career. I’ve been in plenty of countries that I would have my human rights, healthcare, free/assisted schooling, don’t have to fear mass shootings or white supremacists, don’t have to be concerned about the highest maternal mortality rates. Less police murders, no mass incarceration based on race, adequate minimum wage, rights to my body as a woman, I MEAN I CAN KEEP GOING."
While Cloud indicated she could "keep going" with her list of preferred features supposedly boasted by other nations, she made no indication that she would relocate in pursuit of them any time soon.
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NBA announces that it won't hold any games on Election Day



The NBA will not have any basketball games on Election Day in November when Americans head to the polls around the country to participate in the midterm election contest.

"The NBA today announced that no games will be played on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022," the NBA tweeted. "The scheduling decision came out of the NBA family’s focus on promoting nonpartisan civic engagement and encouraging fans to make a plan to vote during midterm elections."

\u201cThe NBA today announced that no games will be played on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. \n\nThe scheduling decision came out of the NBA family\u2019s focus on promoting nonpartisan civic engagement and encouraging fans to make a plan to vote during midterm elections.\u201d
— NBA Communications (@NBA Communications) 1660659940

NBC News reported that the NBA's 30 teams will play on the day prior to the election with every home team holding an election-related themed fan night.

Former Boston Celtics center Enes Kanter Freedom has expressed support for the move, but claimed "that the #NBA subliminally encourages players to vote for a certain party. I had coaches lose their jobs over expressing conservative values, players & staffers who had to hide who they support & vote for or they will get hated on the rest of the season," Freedom tweeted. "Additionally, the [NBA's] biggest backer is #China so when they promote Civic Engagement here, Do they care to comment on a dictatorship they are profiting off of?" he wrote.

\u201cThe issue though is, that the #NBA subliminally encourages players to vote for a certain party.\n\nI had coaches lose their jobs over expressing conservative values,\nplayers & staffers who had to hide who they support & vote for or they will get hated on the rest of the season.\u201d
— Enes FREEDOM (@Enes FREEDOM) 1660679895

Freedom has been outspoken against human rights abuses in China — last year he decried Chinese President Xi Jinping as the "heartless dictator of China."

Democrats currently control both chambers of Congress and will be hoping to maintain their power during the 2022 midterms. The party holds the majority in the House of Representatives. The Senate is currently comprised of 48 Democrats, two independents who caucus with the Democrats, and 50 Republicans, with Vice President Kamala Harris serving as the tie-breaking vote.

Leaked audio exposes top NBA execs kowtowing to China, Enes Kanter Freedom declares: 'Evidence of how a 100% American-made company is run by the Chinese dictatorship'



Enes Kanter Freedom bashed the NBA for kowtowing to China once again. The outspoken human rights activist and basketball player claimed that newly-leaked audio of top NBA executives warning him not to offend China was "evidence" that the league is "run by the Chinese dictatorship."

"Tucker Carlson Tonight" aired leaked audio of NBA officials attempting to persuade Freedom to stop protesting the Chinese Communist Party during games.

National Basketball Players Association lawyer Ron Klempner is heard saying, "I got off the phone with the general counsel of the NBA, and he wants to now have a conversation about, their concern right now is not so much what you are saying off the court, but what it is you are saying on the court when you step onto the court."

In a November game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Freedom wore sneakers that depicted LeBron James bowing to Chinese President Xi Jinping, who places a crown on James' head with bags of money surrounding the pair. There is also a mask painted with the flag of East Turkestan – home of the Uyghurs – and a hand with the Chinese flag on it covering the mouth.

\u201cMoney over Morals for the \u201cKing\u201d \ud83d\udc51 \n\nSad & disgusting how these athletes pretend they care about social justice\n\nThey really do \u201cshut up & dribble\u201d when Big Boss \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\uddf3 says so\n\nDid you educate yourself about the slave labor that made your shoes or is that not part of your research?\u201d
— Enes FREEDOM (@Enes FREEDOM) 1637255348

NBA commissioner Adam Silver is heard saying, "You're not breaking any rule in terms of the shoes."

"There's no rule you're violating now, to me, you know," Silver said. "I think it's also... look, at the end of the day, we're also a business."

Wall Street hedge-fund billionaire, big-time Hillary Clinton financial supporter, and Milwaukee Bucks owner Marc Lasry says kowtowing to China's demands is "business."

"China's taken a very aggressive stance, which is, 'Hey if you want to b***h about us, you're out.' Right? Which is – I get it," Lasry said. "It's business. So, their view is you wanna be in our country and do things. If you want to complain about us, you’re not allowed. So what happens for the NBA is the NBA's in a box.”

Freedom reacted to the leaked audio by the NBA execs.

"This is the evidence of how a 100% American-made company is run by the Chinese dictatorship," Freedom told host Tucker Carlson. "And wake up America. This is the league that you have been supporting and watching. Enough is enough. And this is unacceptable."

"It's just sad to see how these people still can lie to American people," Freedom said of NBA officials. "How can they bow down to this dictatorship?"

"They care about social justice until it affects their money and business," he continued. "The NBA pretends to care about social justice in America, but when that affects their business – they're silent."

Freedom proclaimed, "They are mad because finally, someone from the inside – I played 11 years in this league – I've finally exposed them, and I'm saying it again, 'Enough is enough.'"

Freedom claimed that the NBA is trying to force him to retire, but he is not ready.

Freedom started last season playing for the Boston Celtics before being traded to the Houston Rockets. He was immediately cut by the Rockets. Freedom believes that the NBA is trying to silence him.

He said that he plans to continue to play in the NBA and to keep exposing the league's relationship with the Chinese Communist Party.

Enes Kanter Freedom responds to audio of NBA officials appearing to admit Chinese influence www.youtube.com

Enes Kanter Freedom informs LeBron James that he is 'free to leave' America after Brittney Griner remarks



Enes Kanter Freedom slammed LeBron James over his perceived knock on the United States regarding the detainment of WNBA player Brittney Griner in Russia.

In an episode of LeBron's HBO show "The Shop," the Los Angeles Lakers star discussed Griner being detained in Russia after authorities at a Moscow-area airport allegedly discovered hash oil in vape pens stored in her luggage. Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, pleaded guilty to the charges and faces up to 10 years in a Russian prison.

James asked, "Now, how can she feel like America has her back? I would be feeling like, 'Do I even want to go back to America?'"

After blowback for seemingly anti-American sentiments, LeBron walked back his comments.

"My comments on 'The Shop' regarding Brittney Griner wasn’t knocking our beautiful country," James wrote on Twitter. "I was simply saying how she’s probably feeling emotionally along with so many other emotions, thoughts, etc inside that cage she’s been in for over 100+ days!"

Freedom ripped LeBron for walking back his comments.

"You call it a step back, we call this a walk back," Freedom wrote on Twitter. "You are free to leave buddy or you can even volunteer for an exchange for her."

"Some people literally have NO idea what is it like to live in a dictatorship," Freedom continued. "Keep taking your freedom for granted."

Freedom was hit with backlash for his pro-U.S. tweet he sent to James, and followed up with a clarification.

"Sad to see so many people bashing U.S. when they have no idea what’s happening on the other side of the world. I’m not saying the U.S is perfect but if you ever visit China, Turkey, Iran, Russia, North Korea, Venezuela, Cuba, Qatar, Myanmar, Rwanda ... Then you will appreciate what you have here," Freedom said on Twitter.

This isn't the first time that Freedom and James have butted heads.

In October 2021, Freedom challenged LeBron and Nike to confront the Chinese Communist Party for its enslavement of Uyghur Muslims.

The following month, Freedom wore shoes with an image of LeBron bowing to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

LeBron dismissed Freedom's criticisms.

"I think if you know me you know I don't really give too many people my energy and he's definitely not someone I will give my energy to," James said in a post-game interview. "Trying to use my name to create an opportunity for himself. Definitely won't comment too much on that, if any. That will be where I lay that at."

"He's always kind of had a word or two to say in my direction, and as a man, if you got an issue with somebody, you really come up to him," James added. "He had his opportunity tonight. I seen him in the hallway, he walked right by me.

Freedom – an 11-year NBA veteran – was traded from the Boston Celtics to the Houston Rockets last season. He was waived by the Rockets in February and has not played ever since. Freedom claims that the NBA is trying to silence him for being an outspoken critic of China.

China's state-run media ridicules critic of Communist nation Enes Kanter Freedom as 'ignorant and arrogant' after he was cut from NBA team



The Global Times — a media mouthpiece for China's Communist government — posted a blistering story Friday ridiculing NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom after he was cut from the Houston Rockets shortly after the Boston Celtics traded him last week.

Why? Because Freedom has been a vocal China critic, particularly in regard to its human rights abuses against the Uyghurs.

What did the paper say?

The Times wrote that upon hearing the news about Freedom, "netizens swarmed" to Twitter "mocking the player who has been ignorant and arrogant on China's core interests and internal affairs such as those involving Xinjiang, Xizang, and Taiwan."

The paper added a comment from Chen Weihua, China Daily's EU bureau chief, who said of Freedom: "Now you can be a full time John Bolton puppet."

World Daily added that Freedom's charge regarding Nike's "alleged use of 'forced labor' in China ... proved to be fictitious and fabricated."

The paper also included what it said was a comment from "another netizen" regarding Freedom's speaking slot at the Conservative Political Action Conference later in February in Orlando, Florida: "I always thought of you as someone that stood for freedom, and then I heard you're going to CPAC, the exact people that are actively taking away freedoms in the US."

And a Beijing-based sports commentator who requested anonymity told the Global Times that Freedom "didn't focus on basketball as a player and lost his job… And Chinese fans can expect to watch Boston's games soon."

The paper added that "Freedom repeatedly made false and irresponsible comments regarding China's Xinjiang in 2021. Meanwhile, he publicly declared his support for Xizang and Taiwan secessionists."

Anything else?

Freedom correctly predicted in an PBS interview last week that he'd soon be gone from basketball due to his views.

"They're going to do everything they can to, I believe, not sign me now."\n\nThe @Celtics' @EnesFreedom to @MargaretHoover \u2014 24 hrs before he was reportedly traded to @HoustonRockets and waived.\n\nHe says the NBA "for sure" wants to silence him for his advocacy & #China criticism.pic.twitter.com/GCJIW2KBOE
— Firing Line with Margaret Hoover (@Firing Line with Margaret Hoover) 1644533701

Freedom became an American citizen last year and decided to officially change his name to Enes Kanter Freedom to mark the occasion.

Last month, Freedom blasted Chamath Palihapitiya, a co-owner of the Golden State Warriors, for brushing off China's oppression of the Uyghurs. "When genocides happen, it is people like this that let it happen," Freedom said of Palihapitiya.

Freedom added in a subsequent tweet that Palihapitiya's "disgusting" comments are "against everything the @nbastands for; I want the #NBA commissioner Adam Silver & @warriors board members to step in and push him to [sell] his shares."

Freedom also has boldly spoken out against NBA icons like LeBron James for cozying up to China and ignoring the Communist nation's human rights abuses.

(H/T: National Review)

Enes Kanter Freedom — NBA player and vocal China critic — suddenly has no team. Just like he predicted would happen.



Enes Kanter Freedom — the NBA center who's made headlines for criticizing China's human rights record, all while playing for a league that craves the communist country's cash — predicted in an PBS interview that he'd soon be gone from basketball due to his views:

"They're going to do everything they can to, I believe, not sign me now."\n\nThe @Celtics' @EnesFreedom to @MargaretHoover \u2014 24 hrs before he was reportedly traded to @HoustonRockets and waived.\n\nHe says the NBA "for sure" wants to silence him for his advocacy & #China criticism.pic.twitter.com/GCJIW2KBOE
— Firing Line with Margaret Hoover (@Firing Line with Margaret Hoover) 1644533701

"Soon" turned out to be 24 hours after his above interview with Margaret Hoover.

On Thursday, Freedom's now-former team, the Boston Celtics, traded him to the Houston Rockets — and with that, the Rockets cut him, Outkick reported.

"Coincidence?" the outlet asked in its headline.

In his PBS interview, Hoover asked Freedom, “Do you think they’re trying to silence you?”

With that, Freedom — who became an American citizen last year and decided to officially change his name to Enes Kanter Freedom to mark the occasion — replied, “Oh, for sure they are."

It's worth noting that the Rockets in 2019 were embroiled in controversy after then-General Manager Daryl Morey tweeted support for pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong — a move that cost the team significant China partnerships.

Anything else?

Last month Freedom blasted Chamath Palihapitiya, a co-owner of the Golden State Warriors, for brushing off China's oppression of the Uyghurs. "When genocides happen, it is people like this that let it happen," Freedom said of Palihapitiya.

Freedom added in a subsequent tweet that Palihapitiya's "disgusting" comments are "against everything the @nbastands for; I want the #NBA commissioner Adam Silver & @warriors board members to step in and push him to [sell] his shares."

Freedom also has boldly spoken out against NBA icons like LeBron James for cozying up to China and ignoring the communist nation's human rights abuses.

And just this week it was announced that Freedom is slated to speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) later in February in Orlando, Florida.

"The world needs to understand! I do NOT care about politics. The only thing I care about is Human rights, Freedom and being the voice for the voiceless," Freedom tweeted Monday. "The question people should ask themselves is; Despite our differences, what can we do to make this world better, TOGETHER?"

Enes Kanter Freedom will speak at CPAC: 'I do NOT care about politics. The only thing I care about is Human rights, Freedom and being the voice for the voiceless'



Boston Celtics center Enes Kanter Freedom is slated to speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) later this month in Orlando, Florida.

CPAC will feature remarks by individuals including former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Glenn Beck, and others.

"The world needs to understand! I do NOT care about politics. The only thing I care about is Human rights, Freedom and being the voice for the voiceless," Freedom tweeted on Monday. "The question people should ask themselves is; Despite our differences, what can we do to make this world better, TOGETHER?"

The world needs to understand!\n\nI do NOT care about politics.\nThe only thing I care about is Human rights, Freedom and being the voice for the voiceless.\n\nThe question people should ask themselves is;\n\nDespite our differences, what can we do to make this world better, TOGETHER?
— Enes FREEDOM (@Enes FREEDOM) 1644267807

The basketball player, who became a U.S. citizen and added "Freedom" to his name last year, has been an outspoken advocate for human rights and a fierce critic of China and Turkey.

"Heartless Dictator of China, XI JINPING and the Communist Party of China. I am calling you out in front of the whole world. Close down the SLAVE labor camps and free the UYGHUR people! Stop the GENOCIDE, now!" the NBA player declared last year.

Heartless Dictator of China,\nXI JINPING and the Communist Party of China.\n\nI am calling you out in front of the whole world.\nClose down the SLAVE labor camps and free the UYGHUR people!\n\nStop the GENOCIDE, now!\n\n#FreeUyghurspic.twitter.com/eEoiw5Uz2K
— Enes FREEDOM (@Enes FREEDOM) 1634918907

While the U.S. announced in December that it would engage in a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics, Freedom has said that the move did not go far enough.

"With all the human rights abuses from China,we only countered with a diplomatic boycott?" he tweeted. "How many people need to be tortured & raped for U.S to do something more serious?"

During an interview on Fox News last month, Freedom said he thought athletes should declare that they will not go to a nation where a genocide is occurring.

When It Comes To China’s Human Rights Abuses, US Athletes Should Ignore Pelosi’s Orders To Shut Up And Play Ball

Telling athletes to be scared of China's power is exactly what the communist government wants to hear.

NBA player rips Warriors co-owner for brushing off China's oppression of Uyghurs: 'When genocides happen, it is people like this that let it happen'



It's quite a thing for most Americans, many of who take their extensive freedoms for granted — even as woke politicians and violent leftists have been working hard to snuff them out — to witness someone from another country come to the United States and fall in love with it.

Readers of TheBlaze ought to be familiar with Enes Kanter of the NBA's Boston Celtics. So enamored with the freedoms afforded to U.S. citizens, the center from Turkey became an American citizen himself and even decided to officially change his name to Enes Kanter Freedom to mark the occasion.

And he'd been exercising our First Amendment rights long before that momentous day, boldly speaking out against NBA icons like LeBron James for cozying up to China and ignoring the communist nation's human rights abuses of Uyghurs.

But Freedom hasn't stopped yet.

What now?

Upon hearing the news that Chamath Palihapitiya — an executive and part owner of the NBA's Golden State Warriors — said "nobody cares about what’s happening to the Uyghurs," Freedom took aim Monday at Palihapitiya on Twitter:

When @NBA says we stand for justice, don\u2019t forget there are those who sell their soul for money & business like @chamath the owner of @warriors,\nwho says \u201cNobody cares about what\u2019s happening to the Uyghurs\u201d\n\nWhen genocides happen, it is people\nlike this that let it happen\n\nShame!pic.twitter.com/27j2GxGhCU
— Enes Kanter FREEDOM (@Enes Kanter FREEDOM) 1642439640

"When @NBAsays we stand for justice, don’t forget there are those who sell their soul for money & business like [Palihapitiya] the owner of @warriors, who says 'nobody cares about what’s happening to the Uyghurs.' When genocides happen, it is people like this that let it happen," he posted. "Shame!"

Freedom added in a subsequent tweet that Palihapitiya's "disgusting" comments are "against everything the @nbastands for; I want the #NBA commissioner Adam Silver & @warriors board members to step in and push him to [sell] his shares."

During an "All-In" podcast, Palihapitiya declared, "Of all the things that I care about, yes, [oppression of the Uyghurs] is below my line, OK? ... It is below my line." He soon added that "a segment of a class of people in another country ... is not a priority for me."

How did folks react to the NBA player's stance?

It appears some folks are standing with Freedom's tweet:

  • "Stand against genocide," LifeNews.com replied. "Boycott the Beijing Olympics!"
  • "Embarrassing for the @NBA, especially coming to light on MLK Day," another commenter said. "You would think human rights would be something we all care about."
  • "[Palihapitiya] is a disgusting excuse of a human being to say he doesn't care [about the] Uyghur genocide & [is] standing by the CCP," ," another user noted. "Money, power & greed are the path to hell. Any supporter of @warriors need to denounce him."

But others weren't buying it:

  • "@EnesFreedom, keyboard warriors don’t stop genocides," another commenter said. "What are you doing for the cause? I don’t expect to get a response."
  • "Mr. Freedom you do realize that just because you photoshopped the Nike check off your jersey in your Twitter profile it's still a Nike jersey," another user said. "But I don't blame you for not leaving the league; it's a lot easier just to photoshop the Nike check off the jersey."
  • Another commenter wrote, "To be honest, at least [Palihapitiya is] honest about it and his comment is eye opening. Yes! The west has done nothing for the Uyghurs. All they did was talk talk and made little of it. You know why? Because they simply don’t care, and it is below the line for them! BTW, I am an Uyghur."

Like The NBA, Golden State Warriors Co-Owner ‘Doesn’t Care’ About Uyghur Suffering

Palihapitiya can turn a blind eye to Uyghur suffering in Xinjiang because he knows the China-sympathetic NBA will defend him.