Enes Kanter is a Swiss-born American basketball player who is currently a free agent. He is a role model who outshines both on and off the court.
Further, Kanter was named FIBA Europe U-18 Championship MVP in 2009. Further, he was named Albert Schweitzer Tournament Most Talented Player in 2008.
Also, Enes Kanter is opinionated about his country and culture. He shares a strong political philosophy and possesses the audacity to speak up without any scared of the critics.
Moreover, he is popularly known for his pro-democracy activism and outspoken critique of Turkish President Erdogan. Likewise, he has called out China in the sight of the World and outspread the criticism.
Also, he peruses a great interest in wrestling and has won the WWE 24/7 championship in 2019.
In addition, Kanter uses his voice for a good cause; he utilizes his professional hype as a platform to alert the wrong deeds going on.
Facts About Enes Kanter
Full Name: Enes Kanter Freedom
Birth Date: May 20, 1992
Birth Place: Zurich, Switzerland
Nick Name: Underkanter
Position: Center
Religion: Muslim
Nationality: American
Education: High School (Stoneridge Preparatory School, Sim Valley, California)
Parent’s Name: Mehmet Kanter and Gulsum Kanter
Siblings: Three (two brothers and a sister)
Height: 6 feet and 10 inches (2.08m)
Weight: 113 kg (250 lb)
League: NBA
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Dark brown
Body Type: Athletic
Profession: NBA Player
Professional Career Team: Fenerbahce, Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers, Boston Celtics,
Draft Year: 2011 (Round: 1 / Pick: 3rd overall)
Drafted By: Utah Jazz
Sexual Orientation: Straight
Marital Status: Unmarried
Girlfriend: Emily Sears
Jersey Number: 13 (for Boston Celtics)
Active Years: 2008 – present
Net Worth: $55 million
About Enes Kanter Family
Kanter’s father is Mehmet Kanter and his mother is Gulsum Kanter. His father attained his M.D from the University of Zurich.
Furthermore, he is also a professor of histology and genetics at Trakya University. Similarly, his mother is a registered nurse.
Indeed, Kanter is blessed with three siblings (two brothers and a sister), all younger than him. One of his brothers, Kerem Kanter, is a professional basketball player for Slask Wroclaw of PLK.
Education
Kanter began his second grade at a Hizmet-affiliated school which is part of the Gulen movement in Turkey.
Moreover, he lived in Ankara and then switched to Istanbul to play professional basketball as a teen.
Then, Kanter moved to the United States at 17 to play basketball. He attended Stoneridge Preparatory School in Simi Valley, California, where he played basketball for a season.
Enes Kanter | Basketball Career
Youth Career
Kanter commenced his career with the Fenerbahce Youth Squad from 2006 to 2009 before moving to the United States. He played under the direction of Sedar Apaydin’s management.
Thus, he played about nine games with Fenerbahce: four for the EuroLeague and five for the Turkish Super League.
Kanter moved to the United States and attended Stonebridge Preparatory School in Simi Valley, California, in 2009.
Moreover, he recorded 34 points and 13 rebounds at the 2010 Nike Hoop Summit for the international team. Then, he was rated as a five-star prospect by both Rivals.com and Scout.com.
Afterward, Kanter has assigned to play for the Washington Huskies in November 2009.
Professional Career
The Utah Jazz drafted Enes Kanter as the third overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.
Then, he signed a rookie scale contract with Utah Jazz in December 2011.
On December 27, he made his rookie debut and recorded the most 11 rebounds for a Utah Jazz against the Los Angeles Lakers. Kanter scored 4.6 points and 4.2 rebounds in 66 games of the season.
In March, Kanter had his first 20-20 game of his career with career highs, 23 points and 22 rebounds in a 98-68 win over the Charlotte Bobcats.
Subsequently, he scored career-high 29 points in a 119-111 against New Orleans Pelicans.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Kanter was traded to Oklahoma City Thunder in a three-team deal, including the Detroit Pistons, in February 2015.
Enes Kanter made his finest debut for Oklahoma City Thunder; he recorded a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds against Charlotte Hornets.
Then, he scored career-high 30 points against Dallas Mavericks in April 2015.
Later, Kanter became a restricted free agent after the fairest 2014-15 season. Then, he received four years, $70 million bids from Portland Trail Blazers in July 2015.
However, Thunder used their first refusal rights and matched the bid to Enes Kanter by Blazers.
On April 6, he became the first player in Oklahoma City Thunder to score 30 points and add 20 rebounds in a game.
Consequently, Kanter got a fractured forearm playing against the Dallas Mavericks and was ruled out for six to eight weeks.
Then, he made his comeback in February 2017 against Los Angeles Lakers and finished with four points on 2-for-12 shooting.
New York Knicks
Kanter was traded with Doug McDermott to the New York Knicks in exchange for Carmelo Anthony in September 2017.
In October 2018, he scored 17 points and 15 rebounds against the Celtics, making him the first Ney York Knicks since Zach Randolph to begin the season with three straight double-doubles.
Portland Trail Blazers
Enes Kanter signed a contract with Portland Trail Blazers in February 2019.
He became the third player in team history to record that finest score in a playoff game after Bill Walton and LaMarcus Aldridge.
Kanter signed two years, $10 million deal with Boston Celtics as a free agent on July 1, 2019.
Kanter had to trade back to Portland Trail Blazers in a three-team trade on November 20, 2020.
In April, he set a career-high and franchise-record 30 rebounds and broke the Sidney Wicks record of 27 (of 1975).
Enes Kanter signed a one-year $2.7 million contract with the Boston Celtics in August 2021.
National Team Career
Enes Kanter debuted for the Turkish national basketball team at Italy’s 2008 FIBA Europe Under 16 Championship.
Furthermore, Kanter earned MVP honors at the 2009 FIBA Europe Under 18 Championship. More, he had averaged 18.6 points and 16.4 points and led the team with a silver medal.
Later, Enes Kanter played for the first time at the 2011 EuroBasket as a senior team. He averaged 9.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game in eight games appearance.
Awards And Achievements
- Albert Schweitzer Tournament Most Talented Player (2008)
- FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship MVP (2009)
- WWE 24/7 Championship (2009)
Medals
- FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship Men’s Basketball (2009)- Bronze Medal
