Enes Kanter Freedom Accuses NBA of Double Standard on Political Speech

Enes Kanter Freedom is escalating his long-running feud with the NBA, alleging that his former Boston Celtics teammates shunned him for appearing on Fox News and that some players privately support conservative causes while concealing those views out of fear of backlash.

The allegations, made in a broadcast interview, come one day after the WNBA asked Freedom to sit in a private luxury suite at Game 3 of the WNBA Finals in Atlanta instead of the courtside seat he had purchased, citing security concerns. The change led to a highly publicized encounter with police at the entrance of State Farm Arena, and Freedom left the venue entirely amid disagreement over where he would sit.

Freedom, who has been campaigning for the WNBA to explicitly restrict eligibility to biological females, said he has encountered similar reluctance to speak publicly among former NBA colleagues discussing that effort. He said some initially questioned his tactics but expressed support after he explained his intentions. According to Freedom, those conversations included players telling him «we cannot help you» while also saying «but now we understand what you're doing and we support you and we will pray for you.» He declined to identify the players, saying he knew that exposing their names would trigger a flood of questions.

He also pointed to a podcast conversation with Michael Porter Jr., saying Porter initially had questions about the campaign and understood his position better after they discussed it. Freedom did not identify the other players he said privately supported him.

In his most pointed remarks, Freedom said he asked former Celtics teammate Dennis Schröder during the 2021 season what LeBron James was like as a teammate and how he viewed James' public advocacy. According to Freedom, Schröder replied: «Whatever is LeBron doing is for LeBron.» Freedom said that answer ended his respect for James. «I used to respect him a lot for what he'd done for the Black community,» Freedom said. «But when one of his former teammates said all his advocacy is for LeBron, that's where he lost me.»

Freedom also criticized James' conduct during the national anthem before Philadelphia's season opener against the Knicks, when video showed James making apparent golf and shooting motions during the performance. The episode drew criticism from President Donald Trump. «Everybody knows LeBron James. I call him the dictator of the NBA,» Freedom said. «President Trump said it best. He disrespects our country and disrespects our flag.» Freedom added that James is «the reason the NBA is woke still» and predicted the league would become less so once James retires.

Freedom's account of his final season in Boston centers on two television appearances about human rights abuses in China. He said he was praised after an appearance on CNN. «The next day I walk in the locker room, they were saying, 'Good job last night, we watched your interview, keep doing what you're doing,'» he said. After a subsequent Fox News appearance, he said, «nobody said a word to me. They were not even looking at me. I was getting these dirty looks.»

When he asked a teammate what had happened, Freedom said he was told the objection was not to his message but to the outlet that carried it. He also said an assistant coach whispered praise to him on the court, explaining he did not want teammates to know he watched Fox News because «none of them will talk to me the rest of the year.» Freedom said he told teammates that appearing on the network did not mean endorsing a political party and that he wanted his advocacy to reach a wider audience, but they were not receptive.

«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,» Freedom said. He claimed that some players privately support conservative causes, the Republican Party and Trump but hide those views because they fear being ostracized. «You're not even allowed to say you watch Fox News,» he said.

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Connor Quincy

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Connor Quincy covers public affairs, politics, business, culture and daily news for Core Memo. The role focuses on verification, context, and clear explanations for readers.

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