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?"

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."