The last month of postseason basketball has made abundantly clear what's been obvious about Enes Kanter Freedom's game ever since he was waived by the Houston Rockets in February.
It's not the former top-five pick's outspoken criticism of the NBA's relationships with authoritarian foreign regimes nor his cozy relationship with conservative politicians that have left him without a job in the league.
Rather, Freedom's complete lack of quickness, length, athleticism and overall versatility on defense is why the modern NBA game has passed him by. His inability to stretch the floor, catch lobs and find open teammates on the other end of the floor certainly isn't helping his case for a roster spot, either.
Undeterred by reality and feeding off conspiracy theories from conservatives about his trouble finding a new home in the league, Enes Kanter Freedom appeared on FOX News Thursday morning, begging billionaire Elon Musk to buy the NBA and “bring justice” by finding him a new home in the league.
Fox News host Gillian Turner: "Do you still want Elon Musk to buy the NBA?"
Enes Kanter Freedom: "That would be my dream… I think, you know, he can bring some justice to NBA and finally maybe I can get to play basketball." pic.twitter.com/ewLK3KFSKk
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) May 12, 2022
Musk won't ever be buying the NBA, of course. He is on the verge of acquiring Twitter, though, where the Tesla CEO plans on restoring “free speech” in part by re-activating the account of former President Donald Trump, who was banned from the network in wake of inciting an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, 2021.
It's no surprise that Freedom is publicly embracing Musk, an ever-popular darling of right-wing politicians and their followers. But don't be fooled into believing Freedom is actually being blackballed by each of the league's 30 franchises or has a believable track record when it comes to standing up to abuses around the globe.
He appeared on FOX to chastise the league for scheduling preseason games next fall in the United Arab Emirates, a nation that criminalizes the LGBTQ community with punishments ranging up to death. It's reprehensible that the NBA is partnering with the UAE in that capacity.
Freedom's critique of the league prioritizing the bottom financial line over human rights abuses rings hollow, though, given his open support of Republican pols like Ron DeSantis, the Florida governor who signed a “Don't Say Gay” bill into law last month.
DeSantis and Florida Republicans also passed a law in April that prevents people from getting abortions past 15 weeks of pregnancy, even in cases of rape, incest and human trafficking.
It was a pleasure to meet with @GovRonDeSantis
Huge thanks for your support and friendship.
I’ll definitely consider your offer to move to Florida 😄 pic.twitter.com/pMPwt6YAgw
— Enes FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) April 26, 2022
Good luck to Freedom, arguably basketball's most imminently exploitable defenders throughout his career, on getting back in the league.
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