Enes Kanter calls out Celtics coaches…

[radiohead]

https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-celtics/2022/03/07/enes-kanter-freedom-celtics-ukraine-pins-political-message-twitter/

Just thought I’d share this here.

[gouki88]

Says Mr. Freedom, who happily ignores the numerous Israeli crimes against Palestinians.

[Roy H.]

If what he said is true, he has a point.

[cons]

Yeah. Clearly we need more pins.

[nickagneta]

Guess we know why Enes does go here any more

[RodyTur10]

Well said by mr Freedom. The hypocrisy is stunning.
When war criminals like Bush, Cheney and Obama get arrested and prosecuted THEN we can start talking about Russia.
This isn't specifically calling out the US, the EU have their heads in their own asses as well.

[SHAQATTACK]

He IS Mr Freedom after all.   

[Roy H.]

So who was it pressuring him not to wear the shoes?  Before I thought he had said it was reps from the NBA.  Now he's saying it was reps from the Celtics?  And that they pressured him with "banning" him; does that mean releasing him?  Not playing him?

I'm totally with him on the "we allow popular political causes, so long as they don't ruffle any feathers" thing.  My preference would be that politics aren't any part of on-court activities -- no pins, no BLM jerseys or markings on the court, no protests, etc. -- but it would be 100% hypocritical to encourage certain protest while threatening somebody's livelihood if they spoke out about China.

[Wretch]

Enes is conspicuously silent on the Saudi/Yemen conflict.  I have no problem with his stance on China or calling out hypocrisy in the NBA (especially LeBron's) but he needs to make sure his house is in order.

[Birdman]

Some things I agree with but he may not get another NBA contract

[Wretch]

Some things I agree with but he may not get another NBA contract

His politics and contract situation are separate issues. He won't get a contract because his game isn't suited to the modern game not because he's outspoken about China.

Hopefully the Interpol stuff is sorted out so he can play overseas and still have a lucrative career playing.

[Surferdad]

Well said by mr Freedom. The hypocrisy is stunning.
When war criminals like Bush, Cheney and Obama get arrested and prosecuted THEN we can start talking about Russia.
This isn't specifically calling out the US, the EU have their heads in their own asses as well.

Sorry, but this is probably the stupidest thing I've seen written on this message board. 

I was opposed to the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, just as I'm opposed to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.  BUT, deal with the here-and-now.  Putin must be stopped NOW.

[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

[Atzar]

Enes seems like a dude who smiles to your face, and you think everything is good, until a week later when he airs out all of your laundry on Twitter without saying another word to you.

I think his heart is probably in the right place with a lot of the stuff he does.  But I wouldn't ever trust the guy.  And a hypocrite calling out others for hypocrisy is pretty rich. 

[Roy H.]

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.