New York Knicis big man Enes Kanter has never been shy of telling fun stories, but for once, the Turkish international explained how he transitioned from an international talent into the United States and eventually the NBA.
Still an 18-year-old without much grasp of the English language, the 6-foot-11 Kanter was unable to play college basketball or get the desired interaction with other student-athletes due to the language barrier, turning to two particular shows on TV to catch up.
“[SpongeBob Squarepants] is my favorite,” Kanter said in an interview with D.J. Sixsmith of CBS Local, via Dan Gartland of Sports Illustrated. “That cartoon was actually where I got my English most. In college, I couldn’t play, I was just sitting down and watching two shows: SpongeBob and Jersey Shore. Because you have to learn the street language, not the normal language.”
Kanter was robbed of his chance to wear the Kentucky Wildcats signature jersey as a freshman, as the NCAA ruled him ineligible to participate in athletics after receiving $33,033, which was the amount he was owed while playing for Fenerbahce in his native Turkey.
Neither him, nor him family were aware of the NCAA's strict regulations, as he was ruled permanently ineligible by the NCAA's student-athlete reinstatement staff for “receiving benefits above his actual and necessary expenses.”
Kanter would not play a minute of collegiate basketball, declaring early for the NBA Draft, but at least possessing the speech tools from a sponge-soft cartoony friend and a group of self-declared guidos who are never short of a gym, a good tan, and some clean laundry.
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