Enes Kanter Freedom has never been shy about sharing his political views, and he believes plenty of his former NBA peers share them too. They just won’t say so out loud.
In a new interview, the former Boston Celtics center claimed that “many” NBA players privately support the Republican Party and President Donald Trump. But according to Kanter Freedom, those players keep it to themselves because they’re afraid of being “canceled” and “hated on” around the league.
‘They’re Just Hiding It’
During a recent interview with OutKick, Kanter Freedom claimed that he was “cancelled” by his teammates after he appeared on Fox News.
“In NBA circles, we don’t talk about Fox News, we don’t watch Fox News, and if you do, you will realize that you are going to get cancelled and you’re going to get hated on,” Kanter Freedom said.
However, Kanter Freedom also claimed that there are more right-leaning players in the NBA than people realize.
“But there are many people actually that supports the conservative movements, supports the Republican Party, uh, many of them actually supports President Trump, but just because of they know that they will get canceled and they will get hated on throughout the whole year, they’re just hiding it,” Kanter Freedom said. “I mean, you’re not even allowed to say you watch Fox News.”
He made a similar claim about his campaign against the WNBA’s eligibility rules, which most recently led to him being denied entry to Game 3 of the WNBA Finals. Kanter Freedom said some former NBA colleagues have privately told him they support him, but won’t do so publicly.
According to Kanter Freedom, those players told him “we cannot help you,” but also said, “but now we understand what you’re doing and we support you and we will pray for you.”
“I don’t want to give their name because I know, I just know that as soon as I expose their name, then there will be a lot of questions,” Kanter Freedom said.
LeBron James to Blame?
Kanter Freedom claims that one of the biggest reasons for the NBA’s political climate is megastar LeBron James.
Earlier this week, Trump demanded an apology from James after the 76ers star appeared to practice his golf swing during the national anthem before his Philadelphia debut. Kanter Freedom backed the president, and he called James “the dictator of the NBA.”
“But I mean, everybody knows LeBron James… I call him the dictator of the NBA. And I think President Trump said the best. You know, he disrespects our country and disrespects our flag,” Kanter Freedom said.
He then suggested that the league will look very different once James is gone.
“LeBron James is the reason the NBA is woke still. I promise you, once he retires, NBA is not going to be as woke as now,” Kanter Freedom said.
Of course, James has been one of the NBA’s most prominent voices for more than two decades, and Kanter Freedom did not offer any evidence for his claims about the league’s political makeup.
James, meanwhile, has not addressed Kanter Freedom’s comments.
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