The highly-publicized spat between Boston Celtics big man Enes Kanter and the current administration of his home nation of Turkey seems to just keep getting more heated. Most recently, the Turkish government accused the outspoken Kanter of being a liar for his declarations pertaining to the administration's involvement in the cancellation of Kanter's youth camp.
On Wednesday, Kanter claimed that the Turkish government sent “goons” and “thugs” to put a stop to a basketball youth clinic that Kanter was hosting in Long Island, New York. Turkey's Consul General Alper Aktas responded to the 6-foot-11 center's claims, stating that there was absolutely no truth behind Kanter's audacious accusations.
“There was no threat and no intimidation,” Aktas said, via Jacob Bogage The Washington Post. “It was not just about the Turkish Consulate General. It was also about the Turkish American community and their sensibilities. I just gave a call to my friends, to my colleagues in the Long Island Islamic community. I just shared my knowledge about Fethullah Gülen and Enes Kanter.
“Those are incredible accusations [of threats and intimidation], and I totally reject them. They are unacceptable for someone in my position.”
The government official even took it a step further by attacking Kanter's character.
“My question is, do you want your kids to spend time with the member of a cult?” Aktaş said. “Do you want your kids to take a liar as a role model?”
This feud is getting messier by the day, and at this point, we don't see how this is going to get resolved anytime soon. Hopefully, it does not serve as too big of a distraction for Kanter who will be entering his first season with the C's.
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