Enes Kanter Freedom

February 14, 2022

NBA Player and Human Rights Defender

Freedom. It is more than just a word, especially for NBA star Enes Kanter. In November of 2021, Enes became a United States citizen, and as part of his celebration he legally changed his name to Enes Kanter Freedom.  He said, “I wanted to make that word part of me, because that was the word that I fought for my whole life and that was the word that I’ve tried to stand up for my whole life.”

Born to Turkish parents in Zurich, Switzerland, Freedom grew up in Turkey before coming to the United States to play basketball when he was 17. Freedom is a pro-democracy activist and advocate for human rights. His criticism of Turkish President Recep Tyyip Erdoğan has put his personal safety at risk and prompted the imprisonment and punishment of his family. Freedom has used his high profile as a platform to speak out against human rights violations. He is known for wearing custom-made shoes that communicate his pro-democracy, human rights messages including condemning slave labor and genocide and criticizing Chinese persecution of Uyghur Muslims and Tibetans. 

When asked why Freedom continues to advocate for others, he replied, “When I was nine years old, my mom told me to always stand up for what’s right — even if it means sacrificing everything. From that day forward, I have always been outspoken. Now I am on a big stage and there are so many dictators out there who are destroying people. God gave me this platform, and I have to use it for the good fight.” Enes Kantor Freedom is an American professional basketball player, democracy activist, and human rights advocate who uses his voice to elevate the voices of others demanding their own rights and freedom.