Enes Kanter has been very vocal in the past month, speaking against the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese government in general. But he has not failed to bring the smoke to the doorstep of every other party he feels should lend a voice.
Kanter has been trying to make as much noise as possible regarding the Chinese government, recently calling on the International Olympic Committee to move the 2022 Winter Olympics games from Beijing because of the disappearance of Tennis Star Peng Shuai’s disappearance. Michael Jordan and LeBron James were also on the receiving end of his rage, with that regard, because of their affiliations with the international shoe brand Nike. He commented on how the shoe brand is taking advantage of slave labor in China to make their pricey customized sneakers.
In his first attack on LeBron, he said:
“Money over Morals for the ‘King’. Sad and disgusting how these athletes pretend they care about social justice. They really do ‘shut up and dribble’ when Big Boss (China) says so. Did you educate yourself about the slave labor that made your shoes or is that not part of your research?”
Money over Morals for the “King” 👑
Sad & disgusting how these athletes pretend they care about social justice
They really do “shut up & dribble” when Big Boss 🇨🇳 says so
Did you educate yourself about the slave labor that made your shoes or is that not part of your research? pic.twitter.com/YUA8rGYeoZ
— Enes Kanter FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) November 18, 2021
The Boston Celtics hosted the Lakers on November 19, winning the game 130-109. It was LeBron’s first game since his eight-game absence due to an abdominal injury. Speaking post-game, LeBron was asked about Kanter’s statements, he said:
“I think if you know me, you know I don’t give too many people my energy. He’s definitely not someone I would give my energy to. He’s trying to use my name to create an opportunity for himself. I definitely won’t comment too much on that.
“He’s always had a word or two to say in my direction, and as a man, if you’ve got an issue with somebody, you really come up to him. He had his opportunity tonight. I seen him in the hallway, and he walked right by me.”
LeBron on Enes Kanter: "He's trying to use my name to create an opportunity for himself…As a man, if you've got an issue with somebody, you come up to him. He had his opportunity tonight. I seen him in the hallway & he walked right by me.pic.twitter.com/KYDh5o6AMA
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) November 20, 2021
While speaking with CNN’s Pamela Brown two days after their clash at TD Garden, he still had a word or two for LeBron.
“I had so many conversations with LeBron’s ex-teammates and even they are the one that told me that LeBron, all he’s doing is own PR and everything he’s doing trying to stand up for things is not that he really feels about it.”
When asked why he has not spoken to LeBron face to face about the issue, he had this to say:
“I wasn’t the one that right passed him. He was the one that literally walked right by me and did not say anything.”
Brown: Why haven’t you gone up to LeBron and spoken to him face to face?
Kanter: I wasn’t the one that right passed him. He was the one that literally walked right by me and did not say anything pic.twitter.com/bzJcw5HaRn
— Acyn (@Acyn) November 21, 2021
The Turkish national is undoubtedly upset with how LeBron is staying mute on the issue, as he believes his platform will help a great deal in the cause to inspire the international community to intervene in the happening in China. Unfortunately, LeBron is yet to address either of the issue Kanter has raised.
