Oklahoma City Thunder star Enes Kanter has dealt with a lot of personal turmoil over the years thanks to his outspoken views on the current Turkish government led by president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Those came to a head when he was out on a charity tour and was detained by Romanian authorities when Turkey chose to revoke his passport. Thanks to the work of the United States, Kanter was sent back to the United States instead of the deporting him back to Turkey. Enes plans to hold a press conference on Monday in New York.

Enes Kanter's political views

Enes Kanter, 25, has never been outspoken when it comes to his political views. He hasn't played for his Turkey National Team in years and said that it is because he is outspoken against current Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Enes has actually compared Erdogan to Adolf Hitler in interviews. Kanter is instead a supported of Fethullah Gulen, an Islamic leader who lives in Pennsylvania after facing exile from Turkey.

After an attempted coup last July, Enes Kanter spoke out about the Erdogan government and he actually received death threats as a result. The NBA and Oklahoma City Thunder worked closely with the FBI to ensure the safety of Kanter following the events.

Enes Kanter and his personal life

The death threats against Enes Kanter were just the start of the punishment he faced after making his outspoken comments about the current Turkish leader. Kanter's own family has now disowned him following the comments and his own father Mehmet said that he wished that Kanter would chance his last name because the family says he no longer deserves it.

Enes has spoken out about this, saying that his views on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have cost him his mother, father, brothers, and sisters. When his father demanded he change his name, Kanter actually said that he might choose the last name of Gulen to honor the work of Fethullah Gulen.

The NBA and their support of Enes Kanter

If Romania had deported Enes Kanter back to Turkey, there are chances he could have faced arrest and imprisonment for his political views. Luckily, the NBA and Oklahoma City Thunder worked closely with the U.S. State Department to ensure that Kanter was sent to London and then back home to the United States. Kanter had to cancel the remainder of his charity tour where he was supplying food and clothes to those in need.

Enes Kanter will hold a press conference on Monday, where he says that he will have lots to say and crazy stories to tell.
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