Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom now has a $500,000 bounty on his head.
The New York Post reported Thursday that the Turkish government is offering up to 10 million Turkish Lira (roughly a half-million U.S. dollars) for “information leading to the capture of Freedom.
The 30-year-old Freedom has been famously outspoken about the repressive government in that country, calling President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, “the Hitler of our century.”
Freedom has said for years that Erdoğan wants him dead. While a member of the New York Knicks, Freedom skipped the team’s game in London against the Washington Wizards because he feared he’d be killed.
But Freedom says the bounty, which he learned about last week, takes the threat to another level.
“That makes it so dangerous,” Freedom told The Post. “Before the bounty, Turkish intelligence were after the people on the list, but now everyone is after them because they want the money.”
Freedom, who adopted his last name after becoming a U.S. citizen in 2021, has also been outspoken about human rights violations in China. He claims that led the NBA to “blackball” him, given the league’s considerable financial interests in the communist country.
He’s considering a lawsuit against the league.
“I’m waiting for the right time,” he said. “The NBA is never going to admit it, but I believe I’m being blackballed. I’ve had many conversations and everyone is saying the same thing: ‘Your career has ended because of your China comments.’”
Freedom, who lives in Washington, D.C., said he’s in constant contact with local police and the FBI.
“I’m being protected 24/7,” he said.
The 6-10 center played 11 NBA seasons, averaging 11.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.
About Arthur Weinstein
Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.