‘Freedom Is Not Free’: Enes Kanter Blasts LeBron James over China Comments

Enes Kanter
Getty Images/Tim Bradbury
Warner Todd Huston

NBA star Enes Kanter, who was born and raised in the oppressive country of Turkey, took a swipe at LeBron James on Tuesday over the latter’s ignorant comments on China.

Kanter, who is under constant threat of arrest and persecution by Turkish authorities and has been limited in his ability to travel outside the U.S. to play basketball because of it, was apparently shocked by LeBron James’ late Monday comments about China. The Celtics center took to Twitter and said, “Wow dude!”

Kanter then proceeded to list the injustices that have befallen him and his family as a result of his opposition to the oppressive rule of  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Kanter then finished the list by saying, “FREEDOM ISN’T FREE.”

Kanter’s shocked reaction came on the heels of James’ proclamation that Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey’s support of the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong was uneducated.

Not only did James slam Morey for daring to support the pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong, but he attacked the “negative” part of America’s freedom of speech that would allow Morey to support those yearning to be free.

Coming from an athlete who presents himself as a leader of progressive thought in America, James’ attack on free speech and on people hoping to gain the same freedoms we have in the U.S. is impossible to understand.

Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston.

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