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New York Knicks center Enes Kanter has been the odd man out of coach David Fizdale's rotation in recent weeks – and the fans in Madison Square Garden let him hear it once again during Wednesday's matchup against the Dallas Mavericks.
From Brian Mahoney of The Associated Press:
Fans chanting "We want Kanter!" He was clapping along with them from the bench.
— Brian Mahoney (@briancmahoney) January 31, 2019
Kanter, who joined in the chanting, hasn't made an appearance in four-straight games due to Fizdale's decision. Fans also voiced their displeasure in Sunday's disappointing loss to the Miami Heat.
The eight-year veteran spoke on the issue, and previously noted that New York fans are being ‘cheated' by the Knicks coach (h/t Marc Berman of the New York Post).
“It was probably the toughest,” Kanter told Berman Monday night of sitting on the bench Sunday. “[If] it was a road game, I understand. But it’s a home game, and the fans wanted to see me out here. And they were chanting. I felt bad I couldn’t go out there and help my teammates and the organization.
“You can’t go out there and help the fans because they’re paying so much money to come watch us. They want to see me out there. When they don’t, they start to get pi**ed. They want me to be out there.”
Whether or not this charade is due to the team's possible intention to move Kanter by the deadline, the Knicks haven't won a game since Jan. 4, and the newly-formed “small ball” lineup of Fizdale's has been an underwhelming brigade thus far against opposing teams.
Enes Kanter has averaged 14.4 points on 54.1 percent shooting, and 10.8 rebounds in 42 games this season.
