Enes Kanter calls out Celtics coaches…

[ozgod]

Here's Brad's side of the story.

On Tuesday, Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald spoke with Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens about the matter. Stevens offered a different version of events.

According to Stevens, the issue with Freedom’s shoes at the time was specific to a possible NBA uniform policy violation.

“Here’s exactly what happened,” Stevens told Murphy. “I was actually at home, and when he decided to wear the sneakers, there was some concern – and I didn’t even know until the end of the first quarter — that there was a potential uniform or dress code violation. I don’t know what was said – I can’t imagine that phrasing was said — but the question to me was what to do about Enes’ shoes.”

“I said I think that he’s fine, and let me double check with the NBA to see if there’s any uniform violation,” Stevens continued. “Double-checked, fine, and he wore those the rest of the game and he wore whatever he wanted the rest of the year. It’s interesting, because I feel really good that we truly sat here and supported him and his right to express himself and his freedom of speech, and I even told him the next day that you know I’ve always done that.”

After the follow-up conversation, in which Stevens said he reaffirmed his support for Freedom but asked to be notified in advance the next time so he wouldn’t be “checking on these things in the middle of the first quarter from my couch at home,” the Celtics’ executive said there was no more discussion of it.

“We didn’t talk about anything after that, because we weren’t checking from that point forward. Wear whatever you want,” Stevens recalled.

Freedom was traded by Boston in February to Houston, who released him several days later. Freedom remains a free agent.

Stevens insisted that he thinks “Enes is a good guy” with a “good heart,” and that the decision to trade him was motivated more out of a desire to bring Daniel Theis back to the team.

https://www.boston.com/sports/morning-sports-update/2022/03/09/brad-stevens-responds-to-enes-freedom-comments-celtics-political-statements/?p1=hp_featurestack

I'm shocked that Brad was at home watching the game on his couch.  Did Danny Ainge even own a couch?!

I want my PoBO in the office at all hours!  Scouting, working the phones, calling the NBA about shoes!  I'm outraged.

Danny may have had a couch…in his office so he could sleep there 

[Celtics2021]

Here's Brad's side of the story.

On Tuesday, Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald spoke with Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens about the matter. Stevens offered a different version of events.

According to Stevens, the issue with Freedom’s shoes at the time was specific to a possible NBA uniform policy violation.

“Here’s exactly what happened,” Stevens told Murphy. “I was actually at home, and when he decided to wear the sneakers, there was some concern – and I didn’t even know until the end of the first quarter — that there was a potential uniform or dress code violation. I don’t know what was said – I can’t imagine that phrasing was said — but the question to me was what to do about Enes’ shoes.”

“I said I think that he’s fine, and let me double check with the NBA to see if there’s any uniform violation,” Stevens continued. “Double-checked, fine, and he wore those the rest of the game and he wore whatever he wanted the rest of the year. It’s interesting, because I feel really good that we truly sat here and supported him and his right to express himself and his freedom of speech, and I even told him the next day that you know I’ve always done that.”

After the follow-up conversation, in which Stevens said he reaffirmed his support for Freedom but asked to be notified in advance the next time so he wouldn’t be “checking on these things in the middle of the first quarter from my couch at home,” the Celtics’ executive said there was no more discussion of it.

“We didn’t talk about anything after that, because we weren’t checking from that point forward. Wear whatever you want,” Stevens recalled.

Freedom was traded by Boston in February to Houston, who released him several days later. Freedom remains a free agent.

Stevens insisted that he thinks “Enes is a good guy” with a “good heart,” and that the decision to trade him was motivated more out of a desire to bring Daniel Theis back to the team.

https://www.boston.com/sports/morning-sports-update/2022/03/09/brad-stevens-responds-to-enes-freedom-comments-celtics-political-statements/?p1=hp_featurestack

I'm shocked that Brad was at home watching the game on his couch.  Did Danny Ainge even own a couch?!

I want my PoBO in the office at all hours!  Scouting, working the phones, calling the NBA about shoes!  I'm outraged.

I know this is tongue in cheek, but Stevens left coaching in part to travel less, and spending opening night at home was probably an important decision for him personally to set a standard for himself and his family that he wants to adhere to.