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Enes Kanter criticized for comments on transgender issues

The Guardian Sport • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 25, 2026, 9:00 AM

Last updated Aug 25, 2026

Enes Kanter criticized for comments on transgender issues

Summary

Enes Kanter faces backlash for remarks perceived as derogatory towards transgender individuals. The former NBA player, who previously spoke out against political oppression, is now being criticized for using his platform to make light of serious issues. This shift in Kanter's public persona has drawn attention as he reflects on his controversial history and current stance. The dialogue surrounding his comments continues to evolve as both supporters and critics weigh in.

Source Links

The Guardian Sport

Key Details

•Kanter's comments have sparked significant controversy.
•He previously advocated for freedom and was vocal against Erdoğan.
•Critics argue his recent jokes undermine serious issues.
•The backlash reflects broader social conversations about identity and respect.
•Kanter's shifting narrative raises questions about accountability in sports.

Latest Updates

9:00 AMThe Guardian Sport — I once saw Enes Kanter speak truth to power. Now he only punches down | Bryan Armen Graham

What they're saying

"
Nearly a decade after I watched him defy Erdoğan at great personal cost, the ex-NBA player is using his hard-won freedom to turn transgender people into a punchline Nine years ago, I watched Enes Kanter ask America to take him in. It was May 2017, inside the National Basketball Players Association’s offices in midtown Manhattan. Kanter had just returned from a frightening detention at Bucharest airport, where Romanian border police told him Turkey had canceled his passport. He’d just turned 25, an NBA center with a green card and no country he could safely call home. “I’m open for adoption,” he joked from the head of a table in a nondescript conference room, addressing a dozen reporters hastily summoned by his manager. Then he turned serious: “My next move is to just become an American citizen.” Continue reading...
— The Guardian Sportby Bryan Armen Graham

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