The NBA and NBPA are discussing a plan to allow player names on jerseys to be replaced with social causes of their choosing during the league's July restart in Orlando, Florida. Boston Celtics big man Enes Kanter already has an idea in mind, though it is more of a tangential relation to a social cause.
Kanter took to Instagram on Sunday, posting an image of his introductory press conference with the Celtics and “Erdogan Sucks” replacing his name on the back of the jersey:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CB-9e7OlmbN/?igshid=dvxik2jhlq3s
The Turkish native is directly citing his country's leader, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The Celtics center has been outspoken against Erdogan's administration for the last few years, also calling on the United States to end oppression against Turkish citizens. In turn, Erdogan's regime has sought Kanter's arrest.
Via Motez Bishara of CNN:
In 2017, Turkish authorities canceled Kanter's passport and accused him of funding a terrorist group. In a recent statement sent to CNN the Turkish Embassy in London said that his “judicial process is ongoing” and that he “needs to return to Turkey and face justice.”Kanter has denied all allegations of wrongdoing and has said he fears backlash to public criticisms he has made of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The 27-year-old has called the Turkish leader “the Hitler of our century,” among other critiques.Turkey also reportedly requested the extradition of Kanter last year. A Turkish state media report on the request said Kanter was accused of being part of a terror organization — an accusation he responded to with humor. “The only thing I terrorize is the rim,” he tweeted, adding that he never even had a parking ticket in the US.
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