Freedom recently spoke to Israeli news outlet Walla on his free agency process and was critical of why he believes he remains unsigned at the beginning of August.

“Free agency is open for one month. Normally, I should have already received offers. This summer, I did not receive one single offer,” Freedom said per Legion Hoops. “The reason is that I spoke out against what is happening in China in recent months. The Chinese market is a big part of the NBA business. So, they will allow talking freely about anything you want until it hurts them financially. As soon as you do that, they will cut you. It is very sad and unacceptable.”

Freedom spent this past year on the Boston Celtics, where he appeared in 35 games for the Eastern Conference Champions. Freedom averaged 3.7 points and 4.6 assists per game on 52.6 percent shooting from the field during his time with the Celtics.

Kanter has spent time with the Jazz, Thunder, Knicks, and the Trail Blazers and had a previous stint in Boston. Freedom has averaged 11.2 points and 7.8 rebounds across 13 seasons of NBA service.

“I am 30 years old. I can play another five or six years. I don’t intend to retire.”

The post Enes Kanter Freedom Doesn’t ‘Intend to Retire’ Despite Slow Offseason appeared first on SLAM.

With many NBA matchups tipping off at 7:30 P.M., and some during the afternoon, players like Kyrie Irving, Enes Kanter, and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson fast while suited up on the court. Even if they are able to break their fast in the middle of the game, their previous full meal was likely at least 15 hours prior. 

“Me and [Rondae] sat down on the bench, and I started to eat pasta, and he started to eat fruit,” Kanter says about breaking fast. “I was like, wow, we are really eating food in the middle of a game…it was just amazing to see another teammate fasting with you.”

For Kanter, the support from his teammates has been extremely uplifting over the years. 

In 2019, the first day of Ramadan fell in the middle of the Blazers’ Western Conference Semifinals series against the Denver Nuggets that went to a Game 7. Before starting warm-ups on the court one evening, Kanter wanted to break his fast in the locker room, as sunset was about to occur. He told his teammates to go on without him and that he’d join after he opens his fast. 

“Everyone just stopped in the locker room, and…they waited for me,” Kanter says. “They waited for me to break my fast, so we can all go out there as a team, so we can all play together. That gave me so much hope and made me so happy.”

Solidarity like this from his teammates is not a rare occurrence for Kanter. Throughout his career, he has been very open and vocal about his belief in and practice of Islam, and he says he has only ever been shown respect from the NBA. 

“I’m a practicing Muslim, Alhamdulillah (all praise is due to God)…all I’m trying to do is bring peace and love into this world through my religion,” he says. “One thing my religion taught me…is leaving your differences on the table and trying to find what we have in common. We only have one world to live in, so we need to make this world better together.”

Kanter often reads up on different religions so he can have respectful and meaningful conversations with his teammates of other faith backgrounds. He says he sits in his hotel room and opens the Bible or the Book of Mormon to gain some understanding.

“One thing especially I saw in the NBA—what amazed me the most—is respect. Me and my teammates come from different religions and different cultures, different countries and backgrounds, but…we left our differences in the locker room,” Kanter says. “[We] try to go out there and play one language—basketball. That made us better friends and better teammates.”

On an organizational level, Kanter also saw those same signs of respect. The Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks, and Boston Celtics all provided him with halal meals that were in line with his dietary restrictions. OKC even gave him a private room so he didn’t have to miss his daily prayers that have designated times throughout the day. 

Yet, Kanter’s parents were initially worried about their young son maintaining his religious duties in the United States when he left for college. However, the 6-11 big man proudly practices his faith with hopes to inspire others to do the same, the way Hakeem Olajuwon did for him. 

“Two years ago, when I decided to fast, I texted Hakeem Olajuwon,” Kanter says. “He was just very happy. He was very proud of me…he told me to eat dates and oatmeal and drink water for suhoor (the pre-dawn meal). I could not believe how he survived just eating dates and oatmeal and drinking water. But this year, I did the same thing. I texted him, and he told me the more challenging it is, the more reward you’re going to get.”

To limit the shock on his body, Kanter maintains fasting once or twice a week on non-game days throughout the year. Still, the month-long Ramadan is a different ball game. It’s not easy seeing your teammates cool off with water or Gatorade (although Kanter says they often try to turn away as to not tempt him) during a timeout while you’re just as parched, but so much of fasting is a mental practice in addition to a physical one.

“I am more focused, I play way better, and I feel so much better on the court [in Ramadan],” Kanter says. “That’s why I say my superpower comes back…I feel like my mind is super sharp, and my body is ready to go.”

This Ramadan seems to be Brooklyn Nets’ superstar Kyrie Irving’s first time fasting for Ramadan, and yet, he’s logged six 30-plus point games since the start of the holy month. After Irving confirmed in April that he’s fasting, he went off for 35 points, 12 assists, and 6 rebounds in 34 minutes of play against the Suns, earning himself the nickname “Ramadan Kyrie” from Muslim fans across the world. 

For those unfamiliar with Ramadan’s practice, not consuming food or drink for so many hours could seem torturous. While fasting most definitely requires an “adjustment,” as Irving says, there is a reason those who follow the Islamic faith make such a sacrifice.

“I am taking part in Ramadan with a lot of my Muslim brothers and sisters,” he recently shared. “Just being committed to my service to God—Allah—and then continuing on with whatever I’m guided with…fasting is definitely part of it, if you know anything about the Muslim community. I’m just really blessed and grateful to be taking part in this.” 

Commitment to service, community, blessed, grateful. If you ask any Muslim about Ramadan, you’re likely to hear them echo many of the same words as Irving. 

That’s because instead of viewing fasting as some kind of punishment, Muslims see it as an opportunity. It is a time to remove distractions and reconnect with God, with yourself, and with your community. 

A Muslim’s observation of Ramadan should ideally result in him being a better person beyond the month, both in interactions with those around him and with the world. The fast is not only rejecting food and drink, but it’s also refraining from negative behavior in general. Patience, sympathy, forgiveness, kindness, and charity are all greatly emphasized. 

“This whole month is giving your mind, your soul, and your body a break from everything. It’s focusing on your inner world and trying to be a better person,” Kanter says. “That affects not just yourself, but the people around you, your teammates…and the whole world.”

—

Habeeba Husain is a contributor to SLAM. Follow her on Twitter @HabeebaHusain.

Photos via Getty Images.

The post Enes Kanter on Observing Ramadan and Fasting While Competing appeared first on SLAM.

He nearly out-rebounded the Pistons on his own, with Detroit only producing 38 rebounds as a team. 

Not only is this a historic performance for Kanter in terms of the Trail Blazers’ history, but in NBA history as well. This was the first 30-point rebounding performance in the League since Dwight Howard’s in 2018.

At this point in the season, Kanter has 630 rebounds and is ranked fourth in the NBA. Due to injury issues with Jusuf Nurkic, Kanter has started in 34 of the 53 games he’s appeared in this season. 

The post Enes Kanter Makes NBA History With 30-Rebound Performance appeared first on SLAM.

Kanter will head to Portland while Mario Hezonja and Desmond Bane (the 30th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft) head to Memphis. The Celtics will receive a future draft asset from the Grizzlies.

The move will knock over $5 million off of Boston’s payroll, additional financial flexibility that should come in handy in light of the revelation that Gordon Hayward will not exercise his 2020-21 player option with the team.

Kanter’s last stint in Portland was a productive one. After arriving in Oregon as a buyout season addition, the now-28-year-old averaged 13.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.

Kanter’s role in Boston was never as significant as it was in Portland or with the New York Knicks prior to his arrival and he found himself part of a platoon at the position. Now Kanter will backup Jusuf Nurkic on the Trail Blazers.

The post Blazers Acquire Enes Kanter in Three-Team Trade appeared first on SLAM.

While the 28-year-old saw a reduced role in his first season with the Celtics, he was still productive in the time that he did see. Kanter averaged 8.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game in just over 16 minutes of action.

Kanter’s player option decision adds to what could be a lofty payroll in the event that teammate Gordon Hayward also exercises his player option, as this year is when Jaylen Brown’s rookie scale extension begins to take effect.

Kanter provide offense in the frontcourt for Boston but shares times with the more defensively oriented Daniel Theis and Robert Williams.

The post Enes Kanter Exercises Player Option with Celtics appeared first on SLAM.

“I am definitely becoming a WWE wrestler,” Kanter said. “I already have offers from WWE but I have to finish my basketball career first.“

The 6-11, 250-pound big man would cut an imposing figure in the ring but he wouldn’t be the first NBA player to make the leap. Karl Malone and Dennis Rodman famously joined WCW on a temporary basis in the mid-90s.

Kanter’s obsession with wrestling has been well-chronicled over the years – like in this Vice profile – and he once emulated iconic wrestler Undertaker’s entrance when he was introduced at a Kentucky event back in 2010.

The post Enes Kanter Plans To Join WWE After Career appeared first on SLAM.

A left knee contusion sustained in Boston’s season opener has sidelined Enes Kanter for each of the Celtics’ past two games. Now, Jay King of The Athletic reports that the big man will miss Wednesday’s contest as well.

Kanter signed with the Celtics to replace the hole in the frontcourt created by the departure of Al Horford but hasn’t had much of an opportunity to make an impact thus far.

In the 25 minutes that he did play during Boston’s first game, he scored 12 points and grabbed six rebounds.

It’s not clear how long Kanter may be sidelined but King does report that the 27-year-old was running with 70% of his body weight on an antigravity treadmill.

The post Knee Injury Continues To Sideline Enes Kanter appeared first on SLAM.

“There’s no numbers available,” Walker cracked.

President of basketball ops Danny Ainge said he “had a pretty good idea in March or April” that Kyrie Irving would bolt as an unrestricted free agent.

Kemba is excited to improve Boston’s team chemistry—which was toxic last season—and join forces with rising star Jayson Tatum.

Per ESPN:

Naturally, one All-Star point guard replacing another is going to draw comparisons. That is especially true here, given how tumultuous Irving’s final season in Boston turned out to be. Walker, though, said he didn’t reach out to Irving before making his decision on whether to play for the Celtics. And, when it comes to the comparisons, Walker said he will have no problem dealing with them.

“It’s fine,” he told ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan in a sit-down interview Wednesday. “It’s OK. I guess it’s going to come with the territory. It wasn’t a great year for those guys [last year]. There’s always such expectations with this organization, and things didn’t go well, so now that I’m coming in and I’m taking [Kyrie’s] place, I know I’m going to be asked questions about him and things like that.

“It just didn’t work out. It happens. It happens so much in this league. We know how great of a player Kyrie is, but it just didn’t work out. Hopefully I can come in and it works out. That’s my plan. But you can’t tell the future. You never know what’s going to happen. But through hard work, dedication and us working together, hopefully we can get things back on track.”

The fact he already has relationships with Tatum and [Jaylen] Brown — Tatum recently signed with Jordan Brand, which Walker is part of, and the two spent time in Paris together, and he went on a trip to Africa with Brown in the past — should help. And when asked directly about it, Walker said he was confident he’d be able to help them grow into the players Boston hopes they can be.

“I think so,” Walker said. “I think so. I think my skills complement these guys. I love to get in the lane and I’m gonna have a lot of attention. That’ll definitely open up opportunities for other guys, but for the most part, I think I made my teammates better in other ways, just being a good teammate, wanting the best for those guys and pushing them as much as possible. It’s going to be fun. I’m looking forward to the opportunity.”

Related Kemba Walker: ‘I’m Ready. I’m Truly Ready’

The post Kemba Walker: ‘It’s Cool to Wear Antoine Walker’s Number’ appeared first on SLAM.

Kanter will earn $10 million over the course of his two seasons in Beantown as the C’s are allocating their full room exception to him.

Kanter will join a competitive Celtics team after flexing his value in a brief stint with the Portland Trail Blazers late last year. In limited minutes for the Blazers, Kanter averaged 13.1 points and 8.6 rebound per game.

The C’s will welcome the offensively gifted big man to a frontcourt that will be without Aron Baynes.

The post Enes Kanter Agrees To Two-Year Deal With Celtics appeared first on SLAM.

The big fella finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds in the loss, adding that it was a “weird game.”

CJ McCollum led the way for Portland with 20 points, and Damian Lillard (14 points) said his team made Denver work “the entire game.”

Per The AP:

CJ McCollum led six Trail Blazers in double figures with 20 points in a 97-90 victory at the Pepsi Center on Wednesday night that evened their series 1-1.

“It’s very important,” said Enes Kanter, who chipped in 15 points for Portland. “Teams can’t guard him with one man. They were sending double-teams, triple-teams. That’s when I said, ‘He’s making himself better, but at the same time he’s making everybody else better around him.’ He was passing the ball, really active on defense. He’s been unbelievable, man.”

The Nuggets trimmed a 17-point, third-quarter deficit to 95-90 in the final minute thanks to an astonishing 14 offensive rebounds in the fourth quarter and a 19-9 run before Rodney Hood’s two free throws with 17 seconds left iced it.

“The good news is they had all of those offensive rebounds but they didn’t convert a lot,” Portland coach Terry Stotts said. “They were 8 for 24 on second-chance points. We were fortunate we came away not hurt as badly as we could have been on the offensive boards.”

Related Jamal Murray: Nuggets Made Damian Lillard ‘Uncomfortable’ in Game 1

The post Nikola Jokic: Portland ‘Didn’t Even Play That Good’ in Game 2 Win appeared first on SLAM.

Enes Kanter has agreed to a deal with Portland, league sources tell ESPN

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 13, 2019

Kanter expressed his frustration in New York with his diminished role within the team. In 44 games with the Knicks, 26, averaged 14.0 points and 10.5 rebounds.

RELATED 
Enes Kanter: Play Me or ‘Get Me Out of Here’

The post Report: Enes Kanter Agrees to Deal with Portland appeared first on SLAM.

Kanter, 26, was furious following the first DNP-CD of his career after being told he would be starting in Wednesday night’s loss to the visiting Houston Rockets.

Head coach David Fizdale dismissed the notion that Kanter’s frustration could be a distraction for the hopeless Knicks.

Asked if he’s worried Enes Kanter will become a distraction, David Fizdale cracked, “What are we going to do, lose more games?”

— Stefan Bondy (@SBondyNYDN) January 24, 2019

Per Newsday:

“I think what they’re doing to me is pretty messed up because they just told me this morning that I’m starting,” Kanter said. “Coach said it himself that I’m starting. I come to the game and didn’t even play. I’m trying to be a good teammate here, man. The whole league knows me. I’m always with my teammates, with the organization, that I play for. Like I said, I want to play basketball. We’re all competitors. I want to play basketball. So just if you’re going to play me here play me. If not, then just get me out of here.”

Kanter has already spoken to Knicks general manager Scott Perry about his situation and the team has been seeking a trading partner to take on the expiring contract of Kanter without bringing back a lengthier deal onto the Knicks salary cap.

“It’s so frustrating,” Kanter said. “This morning in the meeting he said I’m starting. Now coming to the game ready to go and I’m sitting on the bench. I can not get caught up with all that stuff. My job right now is just cheer for my teammates and try to be a good teammate. Like I said, what they’re doing to me is pretty messed up. I deserve way better.”

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The post Enes Kanter: Play Me or ‘Get Me Out of Here’ appeared first on SLAM.

Hardaway has posted 19.6 points in 32.6 minutes per game this season. The veteran Lee missed considerable time due to injury and has averaged 5.3 points in 10 total appearances.

Big man Enes Kanter has already popped up in trade rumors. He did not play in the Knicks’ most recent outing (a 110-114 loss to the Rockets) and has expressed frustration over his dwindling role:

The Knicks have been trying to accommodate Kanter with a trade, according to one person with knowledge of the team’s thinking. Trading Kanter, however, is complex because of his team-high salary. The Knicks do not want to take on contracts in return that last beyond this season to maintain financial flexibility for free agency and re-signing Porzingis.

Kanter is expected to seek a contract buyout from the Knicks to become a free agent if the deadline passes without a trade to a new team. He would have to be waived by the Knicks by March 1 to remain playoff-eligible for another team this season.

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The post Report: Knicks Make Tim Hardaway Jr, Courtney Lee Available for Trade appeared first on SLAM.

Turkish prosecutors are seeking an international arrest warrant for New York Knicks player Enes Kanter, accusing him of membership in a terror organization.

Sabah newspaper says the Istanbul chief prosecutor’s office had also prepared an extradition request for the NBA player. Officials at the prosecutor’s office could not be reached for comment.

Sabah says prosecutors are seeking an Interpol “Red Notice” citing Kanter’s ties to Fethullah Gulen, who is blamed for a failed coup in 2016, and accusing him of providing financial support to his group.

An Interpol “Red Notice” is “a request to locate and provisionally arrest an individual pending extradition.” Kanter responded to the report on Twitter:

Turkish Government can NOT present any single piece of evidence of my wrongdoing.

I don’t even have a parking ticket in the US (True)

I have always been a law-abiding resident. https://t.co/DxLgvFcTST

— Enes FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) January 16, 2019

Since 2017, Kanter has been outspoken against Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. He did not accompany the Knicks to London for a game on Thursday, fearing for his life.

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The post Report: Turkish Government Seeking Arrest Warrant for Enes Kanter appeared first on SLAM.

New York and Sacramento discussing an Enes Kanter-Zach Randolph trade of expiring contracts, but nothing close yet, league sources tell ESPN. Kings would want to send out more expirings in a deal. A third team could be helpful.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 9, 2019

Both big men are on expiring contracts. As Wojnarowski reports, the Kings are hoping to send out more expirings in the swap.

Kanter, who is making $18.6 million this year, is currently averaging 14.4 points and 11.0 rebounds in just 26.5 minutes, but the Knicks are 10-31 on the season.

Randolph has not played in 2018-19 and is on an $11.6 million deal.

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The post Report: Knicks and Kings Discussing Enes Kanter-Zach Randolph Trade appeared first on SLAM.

Kanter, a vocal critic of Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, says he’s worried about a possible assassination attempt.

Afraid for his life, Enes Kanter won't be traveling to London https://t.co/PYR5bb1aE9 via @Newsday

— Steve Popper (@StevePopper) January 6, 2019

The 26-year-old center hasn’t visited his home country since 2015.

Per Newsday:

He was stranded in a Romanian airport in 2017 while on a trip to support his charity and needed help from the NBA and U.S. politicians to escape.

“Well, I talked to the [Knicks’] front office,” he said after the win over the Lakers on Friday night. “Sadly, I’m not going because of that freaking lunatic, the Turkish president. There’s a chance that I can get killed out there. So that’s why I talked to the front office. I’m not going. So I’m just going to stay here, just practice here.

“It’s pretty sad that just all this stuff affects my career and basketball, because I want to be out there helping my team win. But just because of that one lunatic guy, one maniac or dictator, I can’t even go out there and just do my job.”

Asked if he is serious in his concern that he could be killed, Kanter said: “Oh yeah, easy. They’ve got a lot of spies there. I can get killed very easy. That will be a very ugly situation.”

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The post Enes Kanter Won’t Travel With Knicks to London Fearing for His Life appeared first on SLAM.

The big fella expressed his frustration following a “very embarrassing” 129-97 road loss Saturday night to the Utah Jazz.

Enes Kanter wonders why #Knicks are "shutting me down so early'', pained by being Luke Kornet's caddie https://t.co/UUSxTLS1fh

— Marc Berman (@NYPost_Berman) December 30, 2018

Kanter, 26, says the lack of playing time is ruining his goal of becoming an NBA All-Star this season.

Per the NY Post:

“I just want to go out and play basketball and want to win,” he said. “I don’t know why they’re shutting me down. I just want to win. I don’t care if I start or come off the bench.

“I just want to play basketball and help my team win. On the bench not on the bench, cheer for my teammates and try to stay positive, but I don’t know what the situation is. I don’t know why they’re shutting me down this early.”

The last time Kanter made a trade demand was his final season in Utah in 2014, but he stopped short of that Saturday night. His contract is expiring and the writing is on the wall. Five games into the season, the Knicks yanked Kanter for raw rookie Mitchell Robinson.

“I understand we want the young guys to get better, but it’s very painful to watch it out there,” Kanter said. “I’m essentially positive and try to help the young guys get better. It’s too early in the season to shut me down. My goal this year was to go out and be an All-Star, but now look at the situation.”

The post Enes Kanter: ‘I Don’t Know Why They’re Shutting Me Down’ appeared first on SLAM.

Speaking to the media on Thursday, Kanter joked that a high schooler must be running the Hawks’ twitter account. (Via ESPN’s Ian Begley)

“It’s kind of weird because they just lost the game last night and the guy they were tweeting about, I got a double-double on him.

“So it’s a little weird to tweet something about him after a bad home loss. It’s just a little weird. We were just talking about it. Their social media guy is probably a high schooler.” […]

“They should consider a new [social media editor] definitely, a more mature one. Because I’ve been seeing what the Hawks account’s tweeting. It’s terrible. Very childish.”

Hold that “L” @ATLHawks https://t.co/1QeDGZuBlE

— Enes FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) November 8, 2018

RELATED:
David Fizdale Says Kristaps Porzings Isn’t Sprinting Yet; He Disagrees

The post Enes Kanter Mocks ‘Childish’ Hawks Tweet appeared first on SLAM.

Kanter thinks fans are “wondering what’s going on” with the League’s lack of competitive balance.

Enes Kanter on the East: pic.twitter.com/kyln8vrr9O

— ESPN (@espn) August 27, 2018

The New York Knicks’ big man has long railed against the creation of super-teams.

Per ESPN:

What do you think about the Warriors?

Kanter: “I’ve got no problem. They didn’t do anything illegal. You look back in the day with what happened with Chris Paul, the league didn’t let him go to the Lakers. Now, I feel like they’ve kind of ruined the league a little bit because most people say, ‘Oh, Golden State is going to win anyway, so I’m not going to watch the games anymore.’ But the ratings are pretty good, though. Still, the fans are wondering what’s going on.”

So what do you mean by “ruined the league?”

Kanter: “East and West, look at the East. East is like AAU teams, and the West is like, the league.”

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The post Enes Kanter: Eastern Conference Has ‘AAU Teams’ appeared first on SLAM.

Kanter says the formation of Super Teams is “kind of ruining the league.”

ICYMI: A new Aaron Torres Sports Podcast- with special guest Enes Kanter!! He talks about his time at Kentucky, getting screwed by the NCAA, playing with Durant/Westbrook in OKC, where he was when KD left Golden State + his early thoughts on Kevin Knox https://t.co/WPMCUJ2TTk pic.twitter.com/cVcMWlpupj

— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) July 20, 2018

The big fella argues that the title contenders next season are a foregone conclusion.

Per the Aaron Torres Sports Podcast (via ClutchPoints):

“They are very good. Very, very good. They aren’t doing anything illegal. It’s like a chess game. They move the right piece and then they win it all. Everybody else can do it.

“[But] I wish it wasn’t like this. Because now you can already [know] who’s going to win. Who’s going to play for the East-West Championships [conference finals].

“That’s it. There are five teams, Houston, Lakers, Golden State, Philly, Boston, that’s it. And there aren’t any other teams.

“People are saying they’re kind of ruining the league, I can a little bit agree with that.”

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The post Enes Kanter: NBA Only Has ‘Five Teams’ appeared first on SLAM.

It’s time for a new look! Over this one.

— LeBron James (@KingJames) January 12, 2013

brother, I agree https://t.co/oUoW3sFtaC

— Enes Kanter (@Enes_Kanter) June 7, 2018

This is not the first time Kanter has tried to convince LeBron to play for the Knicks. Exactly one month ago, he posted a video on Twitter challenging James to prove that he is, in fact, the King of New York, something the three-time champ claimed to be true after a mid-November win at MSG.

The Knicks don’t have cap space this upcoming summer nor has James expressed the slightest of interest in donning the orange and blue when he becomes a free agent on July 1, but Kanter still gets credit for his effort.

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The post Enes Kanter Continues To Try To Recruit LeBron James To New York 😂 appeared first on SLAM.

Kanter issued a challenge to LeBron to “come and prove” that he truly is the King of New York.

This one is for you @KingJames @rushwaiters #AskEnes#KingOfNewYork Come and Prove it pic.twitter.com/wPmWocp4rq

— Enes Kanter (@Enes_Kanter) May 7, 2018

LBJ can opt out of the final year of his contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers this summer and become an unrestricted free agent.

Per ESPN:

“People keep debating about who is the king of New York. … Hey LeBron, yes, you really want to be king of New York? Come and prove it. I’ll see you July 1st, brother. Good luck,” Kanter said.

The Knicks would need to shed significant salary to have enough cap space to sign James to a max contract. They probably would be a long shot in any James courtship even if they had the requisite cap space.

Part of the salary shedding to create the cap space for James likely would have to include Kanter declining his $18.6 million player option. Kanter has said he’s considering not picking up his player option and signing a multiyear contract with a lower annual value.

The post Enes Kanter Challenges LeBron James to Join the Knicks appeared first on SLAM.

During a live question and answer session at Twitter’s headquarters in San Francisco, Kanter responded to a question from @Tariq_Tonyyy asking, “After basketball, do you really consider joining WWE? #AskEnes”

It seemed to be one of Kanter’s favorite questions to answer:

“Hi Tarik. Yes, I do really consider joining the WWE. It’s my favorite sport after basketball and I’ve been watching it since I was in college and I love it. Of course, my favorite is Undertaker. It’s going to be awesome, but I think I’m too far away from that right now. Maybe in 10 years.”

.@Tariq_tonyyy #AskEnes pic.twitter.com/p2dpBILJ0P

— Enes FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) May 7, 2018

The post Enes Kanter Says He Would Consider WWE Career After Basketball 🤼‍♂️ appeared first on SLAM.

James led the Cleveland Cavaliers to their 50th win, driving them past the Knicks 123-109.

The King finished with 26 points and 11 assists, with Kevin Love adding 28 points.

Per the AP:

LeBron James used to downplay winning division titles. Not this time. Not after what these Cleveland Cavaliers have been through this season.

“I’ve kind of like been a hypocrite of that because I’m always moving and trying to figure out how we can be better the next day or whatever the case,” James said. “So it’s always hard for me to be like, OK, another division crown after everything that’s gone on with our team and our ballclub this year, but it’s a pretty cool thing.”

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The big fella is hiring the powerful agent Mark Bartelstein to see if he can help drum up some commercial business.

Why Enes Kanter is hiring a new agent https://t.co/3raE4atUgM

— Stefan Bondy (@SBondyNYDN) March 26, 2018

Kanter’s sole endorsement deal is with the trading card company Panini, and he’s expected to opt into his $18.6 million player option with the Knicks for next season.

Per the NY Daily News:

“At least I’ll make some money off the court,” Kanter said. “Because outside of the court I make almost no money because of all the Turkish stuff because American companies are scared to give me a contract.

“So right now if I have an agent maybe I’ll get some Chinese shoe deal company deal or something, or Filipino or whatever.”

Kanter has said that Knicks games are blacked out in Turkey because of his association with the team. Labeled a traitor as part of the opposition to the government, Kanter had his passport revoked and is not allowed to speak with his family. His father was forced to publicly disown Kanter after being imprisoned.

“I’m a basketball player; I need to somebody to represent me,” Kanter said. “I heard some good things about Mark. We’ll just wait and see.”

The post Enes Kanter: Turkish Politics Limiting Endorsements appeared first on SLAM.

In a story by the NY Post‘s Marc Berman, Kanter said, “I think he’s a young version of Marc Gasol.”

Kanter wonders if #Knicks traded the next Marc Gasol https://t.co/m4f08qwOwx

— Marc Berman (@NYPost_Berman) March 16, 2018

“I still talk to him. He’s doing an unbelievable job working out and an unbelievable job of working on his body.

“I think he’s a young version of Marc Gasol. If he works hard enough, he can be as a good as Marc Gasol.”

The post Enes Kanter Calls Willy Hernangomez ‘A Young Version of Marc Gasol’ appeared first on SLAM.

With All-Star spots opening up due to injuries, Kanter, who is averaging 14.0 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, was playfully asked how he would respond to being on James’ team:

Enes Kanter was playfully asked about replacing the injured Kevin Love and playing for LeBron James’ All-Star team. “I might ask for a trade,” he said with a laugh. “If it happens, it happens. If not, I’ll go to break. I’m going to cheer for KP.”

— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) January 31, 2018

After Kanter mocked James’ Cavaliers for surrendering 148 points to his former team, the Thunder, a few weeks ago, the 25-year-old big man was reportedly warned about his relentless trolling.

RELATED
Enes Kanter, Jared Dudley Exchange Words on Twitter

The post Enes Kanter Jokes He’d ‘Ask For A Trade’ If Added To LeBron’s All-Star Team appeared first on SLAM.

It started off as your typical “James Harden is having himself a night” performance. His 24 points in the first half were impressive, and on a night when the Rockets were without Chris Paul and Trevor Ariza, they were downright necessary. Houston also lost Eric Gordon in the second quarter to an injury, meaning Harden would have to carry his team to victory. He did that and more. By the fourth quarter, his game had gone from memorable to historic. His four-point play in the final minute was not only a dagger, but it gave him a franchise-record 60 points, A few seconds later, he became the first player in NBA history to record a 60-point triple-double.

James Harden’s night in a nutshell (via @nba) pic.twitter.com/pWAFP8fYkI

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) January 31, 2018

Wizards 102 (28-22), Thunder 96 (30-21)

Playing without John Wall, who is sidelined with a knee injury, the Wizards held on to win a close one at home. Otto Porter Jr. (25 points) and Bradley Beal (21 points, nine assists) did their parts to make up for Wall’s absence on a night in which both teams struggled offensively. The Thunder committed 20 turnovers and shot 38 percent from the field, but Paul George led all scorers with 28 points.

KEEF. #WizThunder #TheDistrict pic.twitter.com/WfnZ7VI2lA

— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) January 31, 2018

Knicks 111 (23-28), Nets 95 (18-33)

Enes Kanter had 20 points, 20 rebounds, and five assists as the Knicks jumped on their crosstown rivals early and never looked back. Kristaps Porzingis helped out with 28 more in the Knicks’ return home after their longest road trip of the year. DeMarre Carroll had 13 points and seven rebounds to lead a balanced Nets attack. Brooklyn has now lost four in a row.

Nope. pic.twitter.com/pJSyCtmH33

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 31, 2018

Raptors 109 (34-15), Timberwolves 104 (32-22)

DeMar DeRozan scored eight points in the fourth quarter and 23 overall to lead the Raptors to their third win in four games. DeRozan went 10-11 from the line and also handed out eight assists. Every Minnesota starter scored in double figures and Jimmy Butler scored 25 to lead the way.

Authority pic.twitter.com/LsZ09MS47A

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) January 31, 2018

Pistons 125 (23-26), Cavaliers 114 (29-20)

The Pistons’ 11-point win is the sidebar to this game. More importantly for Cleveland, Kevin Love went down with a broken bone in his left hand and is expected to miss the next six to eight weeks. The injury came as he tried to catch a pass from Tristan Thompson and got tangled up with Anthony Tolliver. This adds to the Cavs’ recent struggles — though Cleveland had won two in a row, it has now dropped 12 out of its last 18. Newly minted All-Star Andre Drummond had 21 points and 22 rebounds to lead the Pistons.

Kings 114 (16-34), Pelicans 103 (27-23)

The Pelicans dropped to 0-2 without DeMarcus Cousins as Zach Randolph went to work for the Kings to the tune of 26 points and 12 rebounds. Kosta Koufos had 17-and-17 as well. For the Pelicans, three players scored 20-or-more points, led by 23 from Anthony Davis, but it was not enough as Sacramento outscored New Orleans by six in each of the final two quarters to pull out the win.

threaded the needle to JJacks in our @ChickfilA play of the game! pic.twitter.com/FaHJyITwj5

— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) January 31, 2018

Spurs 106 (34-19), Nuggets 104 (26-25)

Will Barton missed a three in the final seconds that would have given Denver the win, allowing the Spurs to escape at home. LaMarcus Aldridge had a game-high 30 points for the Spurs and Jamal Murray led Denver with 18.

Oh, and Manu did this:

Different angle but we’re still wondering HOW?! #ManuGonnaManu pic.twitter.com/UfR7Lk8xIQ

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 31, 2018

Jazz 129 (22-28), Warriors 99 (40-11)

Ricky Rubio led the way with 23 points and 11 assists to help the Jazz hand the Warriors their biggest blowout loss of the season. Utah outscored Golden State by at least five in every quarter, leaving little intrigue despite 27 points from Klay Thompson. Steph Curry scored just 14 and was an uncharacteristic 1-7 from three. Joe Ingles was the opposite, knocking down six of his eight attempts and scoring 20 points.

That’s 16 points in 18 minutes.

Is that good? We hear that’s good. pic.twitter.com/3klydaVjR1

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 31, 2018

Trail Blazers 104 (28-22), Clippers 96 (25-25)

Damian Lillard hit five threes and went a perfect 11-11 from the line, scoring 28 points and leading the Trail Blazers over the now-Blake-Griffin-less Clippers. Jusuf Nurkic added 14 points and 20 rebounds, while Lou Williams had 20 off the bench to lead the Clippers.

Aminu-one pic.twitter.com/iiwuZQmUsU

— Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) January 31, 2018

The post Post Up: Harden Hits 60 appeared first on SLAM.

In New York’s 107-85 victory over Phoenix, guard Devin Booker shoved Kanter in the back in response to the big man rejecting his shot and staring him down during the third quarter. Both were hit with technicals, and since it was Booker’s second of the evening, he was ejected.

Never shy on social media, Kanter, who had 20 points and 10 rebounds in the win, tweeted an image of Booker holding an “L” immediately after the contest.

Hold that “L” kid.

Talk to me nice or don’t talk to me at all… pic.twitter.com/tS3mLgClTA

— Enes Kanter (@Enes_Kanter) January 27, 2018

Dudley responded to the post, inciting a war of words between the two:

You talking like you in the playoffs bruh!!! You not Westbrook bruh!! Don’t let that Knicks hype fool you! We know what you are a fake tough guy who like twitter! We already saw Lebron son you! https://t.co/YD0j0J1jCy

— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) January 27, 2018

Get on the treadmill before you talk bro.
You got the retirement body https://t.co/X6GuST1kft

— Enes Kanter (@Enes_Kanter) January 27, 2018

Your as corny as you look Boi! Just remember this NBA fraternity knows exactly who you are! One of the worst pick n roll defender in the NBA! Now hold that L kid! https://t.co/fcD6CwaFK4

— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) January 27, 2018

The beef is real.

RELATED
Enes Kanter Warned About Trolling LeBron James
Enes Kanter: LeBron James Won’t Punk the Knicks

The post Enes Kanter, Jared Dudley Exchange Words on Twitter appeared first on SLAM.

148 #StriveForGreatness

— Enes Kanter (@Enes_Kanter) January 20, 2018

A former teammate from his OKC Thunder days warned Kanter to tread carefully when it comes to poking LeBron.

The big fella says it’s all in good fun.

Enes Kanter continues trolling LeBron James on Twitter: "This is all about just having fun, put a smile on people’s face. I think I’m doing it.” https://t.co/RwjKWZLPd1

— Al Iannazzone (@Al_Iannazzone) January 22, 2018

Per Newsday:

“One texted me and just said, ‘Hey, you’re about to get 50 dropped on you, boy,’ ” Kanter said. “It’s fun. It’s always fun to put a smile on people’s face. It’s good. You got to have fun.”

 

The Knicks don’t play the Cavaliers again until April 9.

 

“I mess with him a lot, but he’s obviously the best player in the league,” Kanter said. “I respect the guy a lot. Right now they’re struggling. I don’t think he’s thinking about what I tweet, I think he’s worried about his team. The only thing he thinks about is getting his team back on a roll.”

Related
Enes Kanter: LeBron James Won’t Punk the Knicks

The post Enes Kanter Warned About Trolling LeBron James appeared first on SLAM.

In an interview with ESPN’s Ian Begley, Kanter said it just two months for him to fall in love with NYC.

'This is the place I want to be.' Why Enes Kanter wants to retire as a Knick https://t.co/VtLQXByeap #Knicks pic.twitter.com/z7x1jSrs4B

— ESPN New York (@ESPNNewYork) January 19, 2018

“After you play in New York, you don’t really want to go anywhere else. The people around are so cool.

 

“I remember maybe it was my second month here. I was thinking, ‘This place is so cool, I want to retire here.’ […]

 

“I was like, “This is the place I want to be.’ You play at Madison Square Garden, you see all the famous people. I’m really cool with Ben Stiller.”

RELATED:
Enes Kanter: Fourth Quarter Benchings ‘Weird’

The post Enes Kanter Wants To Retire With The Knicks appeared first on SLAM.

Kanter says he hasn’t spoken to head coach Jeff Hornacek about his playing time.

Enes Kanter baffled at no longer playing late in games #Knicks https://t.co/SV3B4mQKQI

— Marc Berman (@NYPost_Berman) January 11, 2018

The big fella played five minutes midway through the fourth quarter last night, and his minutes are down to 25 per game.

Per the NY Post:

It’s all a function of the Knicks’ center glut — and the notion Kyle O’Quinn continues to excel as Kanter’s backup. O’Quinn has consumed a lot of the fourth-quarter minutes. The tandem of Kristaps Porzingis and Michael Beasley, neither of whom is a center, has also been used to close games.

 

“I don’t know why,” Kanter said. “What’d he say? I have no idea why. I guess it’s a little weird. I have no idea. I look at the coach. He looks at me. OK? I’ll sit on the bench.”

 

Hornacek indicated O’Quinn has earned time in the fourth because of his defense, but Kanter hasn’t had that conversation with the coach.

 

“He did not [talk to me],” Kanter said. “I’m ready [to play in the fourth]. It’s a little weird to me too. I guess he’s trying to make everybody happy. That’s what he’s doing. The most important thing is if we’re winning or not. If we’re winning we’re good. If we’re losing, there’s a problem.”

The post Enes Kanter: Fourth Quarter Benchings ‘Weird’ appeared first on SLAM.

In a matchup of the NBA’s two young unicorns, Joel Embiid stole the show with a 25-point, 16-rebound performance to lead Philly to a W at MSG. The win snapped the 76ers’ five-game losing streak. Embiid and Kristaps Porzingis (22 points, 7 rebounds) both played well but Embiid’s late corner three put the Knicks away.

KP wasn’t even the best Knick on the floor, as Enes Kanter (31 points, 22 rebounds) dominated the paint and the glass in his most impressive game in a Knicks uniform. The Knicks shot just 40 percent from the field and everyone other than Courtney Lee (20 points) really struggled from three.

JJ Redick, who has been limited by injury for the last couple of weeks, made a bunch of big shots down the stretch en route to an efficient 24 points on 10 shots. Rookie of the Year candidate Ben Simmons wasn’t able to get going on offense but his steal and fast break jam in the fourth quarter swung momentum back in Philly’s favor.

And he just did it again! Just might be the dagger (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/8z1qAlMwGy

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) December 25, 2017

Warriors 99 (27-7), Cavaliers 92 (24-10)

The annual Finals rematch was without a few key stars — mainly Steph Curry and Isaiah Thomas — but it was still a close one right to the end. Kevin Love (31 points, 18 rebounds) led the way for the Cavs as LeBron was uncharacteristically sloppy with the ball, committing seven turnovers. He was also blocked on a few late-game drives by Kevin Durant that featured a lot of hard contact, yet no foul calls.

Mark Jackson: “That’s a foul. Can I get a amen?”

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) December 25, 2017

KD was incredible, dropping 25 to go with seven boards and five blocks. He and Klay Thompson (24 points, 7 rebounds) were the Warriors’ big scorers in a game mostly decided by big defensive stands as opposed to sparkling offensive plays. Cleveland shot just 32 percent from the field but made 15 threes to stick around.

Wizards 111 (19-15), Celtics 103 (27-10)

Another back-and-forth affair on a Christmas filled with close games. Washington led for much of the first three quarters behind its dominant backcourt of John Wall (21 points, 14 assists) and Bradley Beal (25 points, 8 rebounds) before the Celtics took a five-point lead midway through the final frame on a Kyrie triple.

Highlights time! Bradley Beal led the way in our #NBAXmas win with 25 points. Here are his buckets.

RT to #NBAVote! #DCFamily pic.twitter.com/LTzhHZYez3

— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) December 26, 2017

Then Wall, Beal and Kelly Oubre Jr combined for a 12-0 run that regained the lead for the Wizards and put this one out of reach. Oubre added 16 points off the bench. Kyrie and Jayson Tatum (20 points each) got their scoring done and the Celtics shot over 48 percent as a team, but they committed 16 turnovers which allowed the Wiz to take 12 more field goals attempts and 11 more free throws. That would be the difference.

Thunder 112 (19-15), Rockets 107 (25-7)

It seems like the Thunder is finally getting into a groove. After 30 or so games of up-and-down play filled with confusing losses and big wins, OKC is beginning to look like the star-powered team Sam Presti put together on paper this summer. Russ (31 points, 6 rebounds, 11 assists), Paul George (24 points) and Melo (20 points) were on the same page offensively and Steven Adams (15 points, 10 rebounds) did his thing down low.

On the other side, James Harden (29 points on 7-of-18 shooting, 8 rebounds, 14 assists) got his points but did so in a much less efficient way than Mike D’Antoni would like. With the Thunder shooting over 54 percent from the field, just Harden to that output was a win. Trevor Ariza and Eric Gordon (20 points each) helped bear the scoring burden but it wasn’t enough and the Rockets had no answer for the Thunder’s Big Three.

“Unbelievable day” @russwest44 after the night win over . Thunder’s 5th straight. Longest current streak of W’s in Western Conf. #NBAVote pic.twitter.com/HDoENRn28B

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 26, 2017

Timberwolves 121 (21-13), Lakers 104 (11-21)

L.A. didn’t have both Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram due to injury, forcing Kyle Kuzma (31 points in 41 minutes) into the starting lineup and the unquestioned No. 1 role on offense. He did about as good as possible considering that Minnesota threw Taj Gibson on him most of the day. Still, it wasn’t enough as the Lakers kept having to come back from deficits and, eventually, ran out of gas in the fourth quarter. Julius Randle was effective off the bench, scoring 16 points and grabbing seven rebounds in 19 minutes.

11-0 run, that’s quite a chunk!
Courtesy of this KAT thunderous dunk! pic.twitter.com/ihqGiJLVTs

— Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) December 26, 2017

As for Thibs’ squad, the concern about the elevated minutes of guys like Jimmy Butler and Karl-Anthony Towns is still there but the on-court issues from the start of the season have worked themselves out on both ends of the floor. Five Timberwolves scored 16+ points, with Butler (23 points, 8 assists) and Towns (21 points, 10 rebounds) serving as the focal points. Each played 40 or minutes too though, which is a worry for Minnesota as the postseason draws closer. For now, things are pretty good for the Northwest Division’s leading team.

The post Post Up: Christmas Feastin’ appeared first on SLAM.

“I have said less than that honorless (man) deserves. Add another 4 years for me, master,” Kanter tweeted in response to the indictment.

Az bile demişim o Şerefsize.
Bir 4 de benden koy usta.!!!!
pic.twitter.com/fRR5UVS4ra

— Enes FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) December 20, 2017

Kanter is a supporter of Fethullah Gulen, who the Turkish state accuses of orchestrating an attempted coup in July 2016.

The 25-year-old center called Erdogan “the Hitler of our century” this past summer.

Turkey wants NBA star jailed for insulting President Erdogan https://t.co/RrurSQDLRj pic.twitter.com/I1l3PVX6Sg

— Reuters (@Reuters) December 20, 2017

From Reuters:

A Turkish prosecutor asked for NBA’s New York Knicks star Enes Kanter to be jailed for up to four years for insulting Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, the state-run news agency Anadolu reported on Wednesday. […]

 

The indictment on Wednesday said Kanter used Twitter to “defame and deride” Erdogan, Anadolu said.

RELATED:
Turkey Issues Arrest Warrant for Enes Kanter

The post Report: Enes Kanter Faces 4-Year Prison Sentence in Turkey appeared first on SLAM.

The team’s front-office told Kanter that’s a serious no-no.

Enes Kanter warned by front office; Kristaps disagrees with THJ about why the Knicks lost https://t.co/9iJmgdwBkC

— Stefan Bondy (@SBondyNYDN) November 28, 2017

Kanter had assured the unnamed teammate that he’d take care of his fine from the NBA.

Per the NY Daily News:

“The front office told me I cannot say stuff like that,” Kanter said Tuesday following practice. “It’s a learning process. This is my second language. When I say fight, it means compete, play hard, compete. You get a tech; you get a tech. They told me I cannot say stuff like that. I’m sorry about that. I’m sorry, NBA, my fault.”

 

Kanter was on the sideline for Monday’s loss to the Trail Blazers with back spasms, but afterward relayed his message to an unnamed teammate — “Hey man, go out there and fight with somebody. It will get the energy up,” Kanter said. “No, I’m serious. If you go out there and just hit somebody or just fight with somebody, get a technical foul, I will pay for the fine, I don’t care.”

 

Kanter said Tuesday he expects to hear from the NBA. Ironically, the 25-year-old could still pay a fine even without a fight.

 

“They said they’re probably going to call,” Kanter said, before again clarifying his comment. “Just got out there play hard, have fun, compete, fight, means do your thing, play hard, as hard as you can.”

Related
Enes Kanter: LeBron James Won’t Punk the Knicks

The post Enes Kanter Warned Not to Encourage Knicks Teammates to Fight appeared first on SLAM.

Kristaps Porzingis is Gotham’s true ruler, says teammate Enes Kanter.

If KP is the King of the Knicks, Enes Kanter is their fearless and funny Knight. My story from practice.
https://t.co/PUIBShK8tw via @Newsday

— Barbara Barker (@meanbarb) November 14, 2017

James and Kanter went nose-to-nose during the heated matchup, and Kanter vowed not to let LBJ punk his squad.

Per Newsday:

“We’ve already got a king. It’s Kristaps Porzingis,” Kanter said at practice Tuesday, referring to the NBA’s third-leading scorer. “Sorry about that.”

 

Kanter said he played basketball a few times with James this summer, and off the court has no issues with him.

 

“Outside of basketball, I’ve got no problems with him,” Kanter said on Tuesday. “But I’ve been telling my teammates, whenever we step on the court, there are no friends. Don’t shake anybody’s hand, because they are not going to feel bad for us. Every day, every night’s a war. Every day we’re going out there it’s a war. Don’t be friendly. Don’t shake nobody’s hand, don’t smile at nobody because those guys are your enemy. Those guys are not your friends. So I just keep talking to my teammates. We’ve got to bring that dirtiness in us.”

Related
Enes Kanter: LeBron James Won’t Punk the Knicks

The post Enes Kanter: LeBron James Not the King of New York appeared first on SLAM.

Kanter vowed not to let James “punk” the New York Knicks.

Enes Kanter, who scuffled with James: "I don't care who you are. What do you call yourself? King, Queen, Princess. Whatever you are. We're going to fight. Nobody out there is going to punk us." Wow

— Al Iannazzone (@Al_Iannazzone) November 14, 2017

LeBron brushed off Kanter’s barbs by reminding him that he is indeed the “king.”

LeBron’s response to Enes Kanter’s comments (via @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/sPmUtnBY9E

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) November 14, 2017

James ruined New Yorkers’ day by leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 104-101 comeback win.

Per the AP:

James had 23 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds, Kyle Korver scored 19 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter to spark a huge comeback, and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat New York 104-101 on Monday night.

 

Cleveland outscored New York 43-25 in the fourth, making more 3s than the Knicks had baskets (8). But the turnaround started late in the third with the second unit in.

 

“Now we just kept talking about chipping away, chipping away,” Dwyane Wade said. “And then as you saw Kyle Korver got going and then when you saw LeBron check back in, you knew, OK. You saw the waves coming.”

The post Enes Kanter: LeBron James Won’t Punk the Knicks appeared first on SLAM.

“Oh yeah, it’s definitely a shot at [Phil Jackson],” James admitted to reporters Monday in New York.

James says he’s no fan of the Knicks’ former team president, with whom he feuded last season.

Per Cleveland.com:

So on Monday, James, in beginning to explain his Smith-Knicks opinion, said “I wasn’t throwing shade at Frank (Ntilikina) at all, for people that got their pants in a bunch, things of that nature in New York, look for any controversy here.”

 

And then he was asked about Jackson, the former Knicks executive James loathes because of disparaging comments he’s made about James’ inner circle of friends.

 

“Oh yeah, it’s definitely a shot at him,” James said. “That’s for sure. … I wasn’t even thinking about the kid when I was talking about Dennis Smith. I was thinking about the Knicks organization, and Phil Jackson at the time, and Dennis Smith’s talent, and (Kristaps) Porzingis. That’s all I was thinking about.”

Related
LeBron James Has Lost Respect for Phil Jackson

The post LeBron James Dissed Phil Jackson Not Frank Ntilikina appeared first on SLAM.

LeBron took an indirect shot at Knicks rookie Frank Ntilikina on Saturday, saying that New York made a mistake by passing on Dennis Smith Jr in the 2017 Draft.

After throwing down an alley-oop late in the first quarter, LeBron bumped into Ntilikina, who shoved James in return.

Enes Kanter then came to Ntilikina’s defense by getting into James’ face.

Things getting chippy between LeBron and the Knicks pic.twitter.com/zAhQt6QSvz

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 14, 2017

RELATED:
LeBron James on Dennis Smith Jr: ‘He Should Be A Knick’

The post LeBron James Gets Into It With Frank Ntilikina and Enes Kanter appeared first on SLAM.

Column: Porzingis MVP chants at Garden are premature but represent something more: a genuine fresh start. #Knicks https://t.co/2Qsi8kTWS0

— Mike Vaccaro (@MikeVacc) October 31, 2017

Porzingis led New York to a 116-110 win, but claimed not to hear the chants.

Kristaps has scored 30 or more points in five of the Knicks’ six games.

Per the NY Post:

Did Kristaps Porzingis hear them?

 

“Nope,” he said, with a smile that contradicted that at once, a smile that reflected a career-high 38 points and the first of, presumably, many, many times when he will take command of the heart of a game at Madison Square Garden and call it his own.

 

His teammates heard the chants. And while intellectually they know — as did the folks doing the chanting — that it’s a laughably premature sentiment, they also know who their meal ticket is.

 

“He should be an MVP,” said center Enes Kanter, who himself is becoming quite a Garden favorite, who teamed with Kyle O’Quinn to give the Knicks 27 points and 21 rebounds from the center position. “I’m just throwing it out there.”

The post Enes Kanter: Kristaps Porzingis ‘Should Be an MVP’ appeared first on SLAM.

In return, the New York Knicks will receive Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott and a 2018 second-round draft pick, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

New York has agreed to a deal to send Carmelo Anthony to OKC for Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott and a draft pick, league sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 23, 2017

Sources: OKC will send New York a 2018 second-round pick via Chicago.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 23, 2017

Carmelo originally singled-out the Rockets as a potential destination, but after the Knicks were unable to come to a deal, he reportedly expanded his list to include the Thunder and Cavs.

OKC also traded for Paul George over the summer.

Carmelo, 33, wanted to join a title contender, and he’ll get his wish playing alongside George and reigning MVP Russell Westbrook.

RELATED:
Knicks GM Omits Carmelo Anthony from Team’s Core Players

The post Knicks Trade Carmelo Anthony to the Thunder appeared first on SLAM.

In an interview with CBS Sports Radio, Kanter said Durant never complained about Thunder coach Billy Donovan, the roster or the organization while he was in OKC.

“We now know how he felt about us. That made us really sad.

 

“We were in a war together when he was here. We won together, we lost together, but we never tried to blame each other. We never tried to blame Kevin or he never tried to blame us when he was here.

 

“But these comments—before I’m angry or mad or whatever—it just made us really sad.” […]

 

“He never complained about Billy, never complained about us, and he never complained about the organization.

 

“But we learned how he felt from Twitter. I’ll say it again: it made the whole organization really sad. It was disrespectful.”

RELATED:
Kevin Durant Apologizes for ‘Childish’ and ‘Idiotic’ Tweets

The post Enes Kanter: Kevin Durant’s Tweets Were ‘Sad,’ ‘Disrespectful’ appeared first on SLAM.

When the OKC player heard that teammate Enes Kanter was going to play pickup with Durant in New York last month, he warned Kanter:

“If I see one picture of you and KD, don’t come back to OKC.”

While guesting on the Timeout with Taylor Rooks podcast, Kanter explained the situation (starting at 4:19):

Kanter: “The first game, I told my coach, Make sure I’m on LeBron’s team because—I’m not going to tell who—one of my teammates, a couple weeks before that scrimmage game, said, ‘If I see one picture of you and KD’—because he knows that KD lived in the same apartment as me—‘don’t come back to OKC.’” […]

 

The teammate has a lot of animosity toward Kevin, I would imagine…

 

Kanter: “Yes, and then actually after the scrimmage game, 45 minutes later, he called me and said, ‘Did you talk to him?’ Because he heard about the game.

 

“So he asked me if I talked to him, if I was friendly or not, if I was on his team.

 

“I was like, I was not on his team.

 

“He was like, ‘You’re lying, I [saw] you on his team.’

 

“I was like, Alright, maybe I was on his team for a little bit.”

https://youtu.be/bOQPiYPn0pk?t=6s

RELATED:
LeBron James Plays Pickup With Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony

The post Enes Kanter: Thunder Player Said ‘Don’t Come Back to OKC’ If Seen with Kevin Durant appeared first on SLAM.

Earlier this month, Kanter and Smith hooped in a star-studded run with the likes of LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony.

After the game, Kanter told Bleacher Report’s Yaron Weitzman that he would take Smith “over everybody” in a game of summer pickup.

“I’ve never seen anybody better at pickup basketball than JR Smith,” Kanter says. “In a five-on-five game in the summer time, I’ll take JR Smith over everybody.”

 

Why?

 

“He just plays with so much confidence,” Kanter says. “He hits these crazy shots—step-backs, drives, hook shots—where everybody just looks at each other and goes, ‘Did he just make that?'”

RELATED:
JR Smith Prefers ‘Hoodie Melo’ to ‘Regular Melo’

The post Enes Kanter on JR Smith: ‘I’ve Never Seen Anybody Better at Pickup Basketball’ appeared first on SLAM.

The runs took place at Life Time Athletic at Sky in NYC, where Melo often trains in the offsseason.

LeBron has also hinted that he’ll be hooping in L.A. prior to the start of training camp.

Per ESPN:

Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James took a private jet from Akron, Ohio, to New York on Tuesday morning to participate in high-profile pickup games that featured Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks and Kevin Durant of the Golden State Warriors, among others.

 

James played for approximately two hours, a source said. As soon as the game was over, he hopped on his jet and flew back to Ohio in order to attend his annual LeBron James Family Foundation function at Cedar Point amusement park.

 

“He just has a love for basketball,” a source close to James said, adding that the Cavs star plans to partake in some pickup games in Los Angeles in the near future.

Related
Carmelo Anthony and CJ McCollum Dominate Pickup Game

The post LeBron James Plays Pickup With Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony appeared first on SLAM.

According to an AFP report, Turkey has issued a warrant for Kanter’s arrest, to which 6-11 big man replied on Twitter (and has since deleted):

“You cannot catch me. Hahaha. Don’t waste your energy.

 

“I am already going to come to (Turkey) to spit on all of your ugly, hate-filled faces.”

While detained at an airport in Romania over the weekend, Kanter posted a video in which he called Erdogan, “the Hitler of our century.”

I'm being held at Romanian airport by Police!! pic.twitter.com/uYZMBqKx54

— Enes FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) May 20, 2017

Kanter said that he’s been getting death threats and has been disowned by his family for his political views.

“I’m getting death threats almost every day. And I believe that when I leave this set, when I leave this room, I’m going to keep getting death threats.

 

“But you know what, I stand behind what I believe.”

RELATED:
Enes Kanter ‘Getting Death Threats’ For Criticizing Erdogan, Turkish Government

The post Turkey Issues Arrest Warrant for Enes Kanter appeared first on SLAM.

An outspoken critic of Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Kanter was told that his passport had been “canceled.”

While being held in Romania, Kanter posted videos in English and Turkish in which he called Erdogan, “the Hitler of our century.”

I'm being held at Romanian airport by Police!! pic.twitter.com/uYZMBqKx54

— Enes FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) May 20, 2017

“They said they canceled my passport by Turkish embassy.

 

“They’ve been holding us here for hours by these two police. You know, the reason behind it is just of course my political views.

 

“[Erdogan] is a bad, bad man. He’s a dictator. And he’s the Hitler of our century.”

Homeland Security and NBPA lawyers helped to get Kanter into London, from where he was able to fly to New York on Sunday morning.

Well!!
Hello
The most beautiful country in the world.
The United States Of America pic.twitter.com/FBPurW17AT

— Enes FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) May 21, 2017

Finally back in the US, Kanter told CBS Good Morning that he’s been getting death threats and has been disowned by his family for his political views.

“I’m getting death threats almost every day. And I believe that when I leave this set, when I leave this room, I’m going to keep getting death threats.

 

“But you know what, I stand behind what I believe.”

RELATED:
Enes Kanter Kept Off Turkish National Team for ‘Political Views’

The post Enes Kanter ‘Getting Death Threats’ For Criticizing Erdogan, Turkish Government appeared first on SLAM.

Twitter's somehow still free. (via @Enes_Kanter) pic.twitter.com/WNBdneCY8z

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) March 16, 2017

King of the Prairie, forever and ever.

The post The Stache Bros Praise the King of the Prairie appeared first on SLAM.

Westbrook’s response, naturally, was a classic.

Earlier this week Steph Curry said James Harden should win the MVP over Russell Westbrook. Today RW responds: "who's he?" pic.twitter.com/kqeiWJiMrC

— Faizal Khamisa (@SNFaizalKhamisa) March 16, 2017

Never, ever change, Russ.

Thunder bigs Enes Kanter and Steven Adams put out a funny video in support of their teammate’s MVP campaign.

Our leader, our hero, King of the Prairie, Russ!! #MVP #MVP #MVP pic.twitter.com/46Fbe6ZlG8

— Enes Kanter (@Enes_Kanter) March 16, 2017

Related
Nets Fans Chant ‘MVP’ During Russell Westbrook’s 33rd Triple-Double

The post Russell Westbrook on Steph Curry’s MVP Pick: ‘I Don’t Care’ appeared first on SLAM.

Sources on @TheVertical: After punching chair to fracture forearm, OKC's Enes Kanter could miss two months. https://t.co/moei4nsCPL

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) January 27, 2017

Russell Westbrook must now carry an even bigger load.

Kanter, 24, is averaging 14.6 points and 6.8 rebounds for the 28-19 Thunder this season.

Per The Oklahoman:

“I’m disappointed personally because I think Enes had been playing very good basketball,” (Thunder coach Billy) Donovan said. “He’d kind of carved out a niche coming off the bench for us with that second unit. He was a guy that generated offense for us.”

 

Entering Thursday’s game, Kanter was averaging 17.3 points and 8.8 rebounds on 56.8 percent shooting in January.

 

Russell Westbrook called it “very unfortunate” that the injury was self-inflicted, but Kanter’s teammates were understanding afterward. Steven Adams, who said he’d never seen Kanter erupt in that way, said Kanter’s frustrations were “continuous things” that “just exploded.”

The post Report: Enes Kanter Out Up to Two Months With Fractured Forearm appeared first on SLAM.

While the Thunder initially feared Kanter had fractured his hand, Billy Donovan confirmed it was the forearm after the game.

Billy Donovan says Enes Kanter has a right forearm fracture. I saw Kanter briefly in hallway & asked what he did. He said: "nothing smart."

— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) January 27, 2017

The Thunder fear that Enes Kanter fractured his hand after punching a chair. pic.twitter.com/MgjQMkgopG

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) January 27, 2017

There’s no word yet on how long Kanter will be out, but forearm injuries can take a few months to fully heal. The sixth-year pro is averaging 14.6 points and 7 rebounds off the bench in his second full season with the Thunder.

The post Enes Kanter Fractured His Forearm After Punching a Chair appeared first on SLAM.

James Harden posted a 34-point line, sinking 12 of 12 free throws, in Houston’s second straight W. While the game’s outcome never appeared in doubt, a verbal low-blow from Mavs center Salah Mejri left a sour taste within the Rockets’ locker room. According to Houston Chronicle reporter Jonathan Feigen, Mejri insulted Trevor Ariza’s wife and children during the game. Ariza, who was restrained by security guards after the game, was backed by his teammates.

 James Harden after the Rockets routed the Mavs: “That other team was trippin’ tonight, just disrespectful, unprofessional, players and coaches. I don’t know what was their problem, but I think that got us going. They wanted to throw a little cheap shot and just woke us up a little bit and it was over from there.”

What we experienced today as a team. Was the upmost disrespect. And total disrespect to Us and the GAME OF BASKETBALL…Still got the W tho

— Patrick Beverley (@patbev21) December 28, 2016

Celtics 113 (19-13), Grizzlies 103 (20-14)

How good is Isaiah Thomas? Per ESPN’s Chris Forsberg, Thomas is the NBA’s only player to score 20+ points in 16 consecutive games. Boston also received solid performances from Avery Bradley (23 points, seven boards) and Gerald Green, whose career has been rejuvenated after a disappointing 2015-16 season in Miami.

https://youtu.be/hRexUbLimFo

Thunder 106 (20-12), Heat 94 (10-22)

Russell Westbrook continued his elite play, dropping his 15th triple-double of the season in just three quarters.

.@russwest44 needed just three quarters to record his 15th triple-double of the season. his highlights here: https://t.co/jrfkCwK6mO pic.twitter.com/JSB8w2Ba9g

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 28, 2016

Josh Richardson provided solid offense for the Heat – tallying 22 points with five boards and three dimes – but Miami otherwise had no answers for OKC. Enes Kanter scored 19 points off the bench, while the Thunder shot a cumulative 51.2 percent from the field.

Jazz 102 (19-13), Lakers 100 (12-23)

The Lakers have had a rough go of it, now dropping five of their last six in a competitive match-up against Gordon Hayward (31 points, nine boards) and the Jazz. Largely known as a sharp-shooter, Hayward showed off his hops toward the end of regulation.

GET UP, @gordonhayward! https://t.co/ateLOHqa5I

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 28, 2016

Julius Randle and Lou Williams had 25 and 22 points, respectively. The win is a nice coup for Utah, who entered the game without Dante Exum or George Hill.

https://youtu.be/cttIax8uelk

The post Post Up: Grudge Match appeared first on SLAM.

Led by Enes Kanter’s 24 points and 10 boards, OKC held off the visiting Miami Heat 97-85.

Westbrook finished with 14 points — 19 below his season average entering the game.

Per the AP:

Westbrook finished with 11 assists, and his control of the action helped the Thunder build a 22-point lead after three quarters. He didn’t play in the fourth.

 

“He’s always looking for his teammates,” Kanter said. “He’s looking to score, but he knows that he’s going to get double-teamed, triple-teamed. They cannot guard him. There’s no one guy in the league that can guard him 1-on-1. He’s making himself better, and he’s making everybody else better on the team.”

 

Oklahoma City improved to 6-1, the best seven-game start for the franchise since moving to Oklahoma City in 2008.

The post WATCH: Russell Westbrook Dominates the Miami Heat appeared first on SLAM.

Following the game, Durant took a shot at Kanter, telling reporters, “How many minutes did he play? Three minutes. I’m trying to focus on whoever’s on the court. He trying to talk to me from the sideline. But I’m sure he’s going to put something on Twitter Tonight.”

Kevin Durant on Enes Kanter trash-talking him: "I'm sure he'll put something on Twitter tonight" pic.twitter.com/OPot2gymVS

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) November 4, 2016

Last night, the Thunder beat up on the Timberwolves, but that didn’t stop Kanter from taking a jab at Durant by calling Russ the “leader of this team this year, and last year:”

Kanter on Westbrook again: "He's the leader of this team this year, and last year." Yells back after, "I had to say it!" pic.twitter.com/2ZT4Itbkr7

— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) November 6, 2016

Related
Russell Westbrook: ‘Warriors Talk A Lot of Trash’
WATCH: Kevin Durant Drops 39 Against Thunder

The post Enes Kanter: ‘[Russell Westbrook] Is The Leader Of This Team This Year. And Last Year’ appeared first on SLAM.

Russell Westbrook let his play do the talking (20 points and 10 assists in the 122-96 loss), but did remark that the Dubs do quite a bit of yapping.

Russell Westbrook on how OKC handled the emotions, trash talk of Thunder-Warriors: pic.twitter.com/EOW6THLNu1

— Erik Horne (@ErikHorneOK) November 4, 2016

Kevin Durant on the on court trash talk: "No ill will" pic.twitter.com/l6nrHNlHnV

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) November 4, 2016

KD saved most of his vitriol for Enes Kanter and Thunder newcomer Jerami Grant (who stared Durant down after dunking on him.)

Together – Jerami Grant slams and yaps at KD, then KD with the layup plus one and the clapback pic.twitter.com/onujslwrWy

— CJ Fogler (@cjzero) November 4, 2016

Kevin Durant on Enes Kanter trash-talking him: "I'm sure he'll put something on Twitter tonight" pic.twitter.com/OPot2gymVS

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) November 4, 2016

Per The Oklahoman:

“I think y’all heard what he said,” Grant said. “Everybody heard what he said. Everybody was watching him, so …”

 

In the postgame, Kanter essentially no commented on what was said between he and Durant. “It’s just part of the game,’ he said. “I’m just gonna leave it there and keep going forward.”

 

Said Durant: “I know those guys over there, and they know me. Trash talking is part of it. I’m going to go out there and be who I am. If you talk , I’ll talk back. I don’t really say much, but if you start it, I’ll finish it. […] It is what it is. It was a fun game.”

The post Russell Westbrook: ‘Warriors Talk a Lot of Trash’ appeared first on SLAM.

The post WATCH: Kawhi Leonard Steals, Dunks on Russell Westbrook appeared first on SLAM.

The post Enes Kanter Leads OKC to Game 4 Win Over Dallas (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

First-ever 30/20 game for a Thunder player. Only the 5th in the NBA all season. #EnesKanter pic.twitter.com/UiBsi6b3wv

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) April 7, 2016

Al-Farouq Aminu scored 27 points and C.J. McCollum 26 as six Blazers scored in double figures.

The win clinched a Playoff berth for Portland, something that was unimaginable at the start of the season.

It use to be funny… #DontLetThatWorryYa pic.twitter.com/bU6YllgIrj

— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) April 7, 2016

Per the AP:

Expectations were minimal for the Portland heading into the season after losing four of its five starters from the 2014-15 campaign. The Blazers didn’t exactly prove the experts wrong during the season’s first eight weeks, taking an 11-20 record into a Dec. 26 game against Cleveland. […] But since beating the Cavaliers 105-76, Portland is 32-17. The Blazers climbed from near the bottom of the Western Conference standings, to having a shot at the West’s No. 5 seed.

 

“We came back from whatever our record was in December to put together a run and stayed with the process,” Portland coach Terry Stotts said. “It’s been very rewarding.”

 

(Damian) Lillard, who scored 11 points, repeatedly used the word “satisfying” in describing the team’s feelings about clinching a playoff berth. […] “Because there was so much doubt,” he said. “It wasn’t just people saying they’re not going to be a playoff team. People said we wouldn’t win 20 games.”

The post Enes Kanter With 33 Points and 20 Rebounds vs Portland (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

See the Buck put the Thunder big man on a poster:

The post WATCH: John Henson Posterizes Enes Kanter appeared first on SLAM.

Enes Kanter chipped in 21 points, including 11 in a five-minute span that broke things open.

The Thunder rallied from an 11-point second half deficit.

Per the AP:

Russell Westbrook had 30 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds, just missing what would have been his fourth triple-double of the season, as the Thunder rallied from an 11-point, second-half deficit. […] Durant recorded his eighth double-double of the season with 26 points and 10 assists for the Thunder, who have won 10 of their last 12 games but were coming off a Christmas Day loss at home to the Chicago Bulls.

 

“Kanter was their MVP tonight,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “He dominated us. Every time we play this team, he dominates us. We just have to get in the weight room and get a little bit stronger.”

 

Kenneth Faried had 25 points and 11 points for the Nuggets, who have lost five of their last six games. Denver has lost six straight trips to Oklahoma City. […] “We didn’t defend at all tonight,” Malone said. “Our offense was terrific, but that is a losing proposition if you try to outscore the Thunder on their home court with the firepower they have. We left our defense in the locker room at halftime.”

The post WATCH: Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant Dominate the Nuggets appeared first on SLAM.

News: Thunder matches offer sheet for Enes Kanter. GM Sam Presti: "…we are excited that he will continue with us." pic.twitter.com/hBQ0CUbvDi

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) July 13, 2015

The Thunder, under tremendous pressure to show they’re committed to winning with Kevin Durant’s free agency looming next summer, had basically no choice but to fork over big money for Kanter.

As salary cap rises in 2016-'17, Kanter contract won't cause Thunder to be a luxury tax team — even if Kevin Durant signed new deal.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 13, 2015

Thunder takes tax hit this season, but they've been under tax for years. Ownership simply has to deal with it. Huge stakes with KD this year

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 13, 2015

Following a mid-season trade from Utah, the 23-year-old Kanter played in 26 games for OKC, averaging 18.7 points and 11 rebounds in 31.1 minutes per night.

Per the AP:

The Thunder said all along they wanted to keep the 23-year-old Kanter, who scored 20 or more points in 12 of his 26 appearances with the Thunder last season. […] “We traded for Enes last season with the intention of keeping him as a member of the Thunder for several years to come, and we are excited that he will continue with us,” Thunder general manager Sam Presti said in a statement.

 

Kanter is a skilled low-post scorer who adds versatility to an offense that features Durant, Ibaka and reigning scoring champion Russell Westbrook. After the midseason deal with Utah, Kanter proved to instantly have a good rapport with Westbrook, especially on the pick-and-roll. […] Kanter made it clear during the season that he was much happier in Oklahoma City, and that he considered the Thunder a first-class organization. But Kanter, the No. 3 pick in the 2011 draft, will need to improve defensively.

 

Oklahoma City is well over the salary cap and will pay the luxury tax, a change of direction for the typically cost-conscious franchise. But the league recently had a 10.3 percent increase in the luxury tax number, to $84.7 million, and that number will climb higher the following year when the league’s new television deals take effect.

The post Thunder Match Portland’s $70 Million Offer for Enes Kanter appeared first on SLAM.

According to OKC Thunder general manager Sam Presti, the restricted free agent big man isn’t going anywhere.

Offer sheet for Enes Kanter, per source, is a four-year max deal for approximately $70 million, with a player option for year four.

— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 9, 2015

Was able to catch up with Sam Presti. His comment on the reported Enes Kanter offer sheet: pic.twitter.com/bNjcjKGoJh

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) July 9, 2015

Kanter has reportedly inked the offer sheet from Portland, and the Thunder have until Sunday to match it.

Per Yahoo! Sports:

Kanter traveled to Portland on Thursday to sign the offer sheet, and it was sent via email on Thursday afternoon to Oklahoma City. The Thunder have until Sunday to match it and retain Kanter.

 

Oklahoma City will feel immense pressure to show star Kevin Durant a strong commitment to winning in the final year of his contract, and Kanter is an important part of the Thunder’s nucleus. The possibility of losing a young player of Kanter’s talent for no assets is extremely remote for the Thunder. GM Sam Presti had planned his payroll and roster for the possibility of a maximum offer sheet, sources said.

 

After losing All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge in free agency, the Blazers have $25 million in salary cap space.

The post Thunder Say They’ll Match Blazers’ $70 Million Offer for Enes Kanter appeared first on SLAM.

@Enes_Kanter: I was excluded from #Turkey squad due to my beliefs. http://t.co/09rg5Ecdq9 pic.twitter.com/1POnY0NUvq

— Hizmet News Portal (@hizmet_news) June 25, 2015

Kanter says he “repeatedly expressed his readiness to join the national squad”, but it was not to be.

Per The Oklahoman (via Turkish daily Today’s Zaman):

Even after he “repeatedly expressed his readiness to join the national squad in the past few weeks,” Kanter was left off coach Ergin Ataman’s roster. In a statement, Kanter said “the reason why I was excluded from the national team is my values and political views.” […] Todayszaman.com reports that Ataman called Kanter twice but could not get in contact with him. Eurobasket2015.org’s announcement on the Turkish roster quotes Ataman as failing to “rebuild bridges” with Kanter before the Championships, set to being in September.

 

From Eurobasket2015.org: “The only one of the tasks which Ataman had assigned to himself and did not complete was to rebuild bridges with Enes Kanter, so the Oklahoma City Thunder big man is not included on the list. […] “We are proud of the way Enes represents Turkey in the NBA and when I came to the national team I wanted us to start with a clean slate,” Ataman said.

 

“But he avoided giving a definite answer to my calls and approaches, which is why we did not invite him to the national team this year.” […] Kanter is a restricted free agent this summer. Thunder general manager Sam Presti has indicated that he plans to retain the 23-year-old.

The post Enes Kanter Kept Off Turkish National Team for ‘Political Views’ appeared first on SLAM.

Had a minor knee surgery. Feeling pretty good. Looking forward to strong new season already! pic.twitter.com/91n8SycLSl

— Enes Kanter (@Enes_Kanter) April 22, 2015

The big fella is expected to be off his feet for 4-6 weeks.

From the press release:

Kanter, who was acquired on Feb. 19 from the Utah Jazz, appeared in 26 games (26 starts) with the Thunder averaging 18.7 points on 56.6 percent shooting from the floor (196-of-346), 11.0 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 31.1 minutes per game. Overall, the fourth-year center played in 75 games (74 starts) with Utah and Oklahoma City, averaging 15.5 points and 8.9 rebounds in 28.5 minutes per contest.

 

Kanter is expected to miss 4-6 weeks before returning to normal offseason activities.

The post Enes Kanter Undergoes Left Knee Surgery appeared first on SLAM.

Booker called out Kanter and the OKC Thunder for failing to qualify for the Playoffs.

Wouldn't go to war with any other guys! Helluva season Jazz Nation!!! And oh yeah, glad we didn't lose to a non playoff team @Enes_Kanter

— Trevor Booker (@35_Fitz) April 16, 2015

The Jazz ended their 2014-15 campaign with a 117-91 road loss to the Houston Rockets.

Per the Salt Lake Tribune:

After spending his homecoming lightly blasting his old team and subsequently reveling in a chorus of boos from the fans that once cheered him, Enes Kanter lobbed one more insult at the Utah Jazz on his way out of Salt Lake City late last month. […] “We have to do a better job,” Kanter said following a 94-89 loss for his Oklahoma City. “We cannot just let a team not even in the playoffs spot beat us like that.”

 

Thursday night saw the end of the season for Booker and the Jazz. It also saw the New Orleans Pelicans beat the San Antonio Spurs, knocking Kanter and the Thunder out of the postseason.

 

And Booker, who wasn’t shy about expressing his feelings about Kanter last month, wouldn’t let his old teammate forget that either.

The post Trevor Booker Still Taking Shots at Enes Kanter appeared first on SLAM.

Lol. Just got posterized by @russwest44 Good job brother haha Good Team Win #ThunderUp

— Enes Kanter (@Enes_Kanter) March 30, 2015

Enes Kanter made the mistake of jumping with Russ on a fastbreak Sunday night, and ended up on a poster as Westbrook led the OKC Thunder to a big 109-107 road win against the Phoenix Suns.

Westbrook finished with a game-high 33 points, along with 9 rebounds and seven assists, with OKC rallying from a 20-point deficit against the reeling Suns.

Per the AZ Republic:

The 10th-place Suns fell four games behind Oklahoma City (42-32) with eight games remaining, but it is more like a five-game gap because Oklahoma City won the season series, 3-1, in case of a tie. [….] The Suns lost a third consecutive home game, blowing a 20-point lead by going from a 62-point first half to a 35-point second half. The Suns played like a fatigued team in the second half even though Oklahoma City was the team coming off a Saturday game at Utah. The Thunder still had its largest comeback of the season for the Suns’ largest blown lead of the season.

 

“It looked like we ran out of gas,” Suns coach Jeff Hornacek said. “We weren’t getting up and down the court. We had turnovers and they were getting easy baskets. I don’t know if the guys felt demoralized when that happened but you’ve got to keep playing.”

 

Oklahoma City made five 3-pointers in a span of 3:10 with none of them by Westbrook, who had four of his 33 points in the fourth quarter. The Suns missed their last eight 3-point tries of the game, continuing to be the NBA’s worst 3-point shooting team since the trade-deadline roster makeover. […] “They made (expletive) five 3s in a row, contested,” Markieff Morris said. “We were up 20 points. That’s a tough blow.”

The post Russell Westbrook Dunks on Teammate Enes Kanter (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

From Jazz radio man David Locke via Twitter:

"He got his stats and he got the L as always" — Trevor Booker on post game interview on Jazz radio.

— David Locke (@DLocke09) March 29, 2015

The post Trevor Booker on Enes Kanter: ‘He Got His Stats and He Got the L as Always’ appeared first on SLAM.

From ESPN:

“I love it,” Kanter said before the game of his change of scenery. “It’s a team I’ve never experienced before and I actually like playing basketball there. I’m just so comfortable and everything is in the right place. I’m just really happy to be there.”

 

And it showed, as he continued his hot streak with 18 points and 11 rebounds in a 94-89 loss to the Jazz.

 

…

 

“I think the difference is, I like playing basketball there,” Kanter said. “I think that’s the most important thing. I never liked playing basketball before in my NBA career, and this is the first time I felt like playing basketball there, for my team, for the fans, for my teammates for my coaches, for everybody. So, that’s the first time.”

 

…

 

“It wasn’t just a one-game or two-game frustration,” he said. “It was a 3½-year frustration. I’m happy for both sides. I think it worked out well for both sides. I’m definitely happy that I’m part of the Oklahoma City team, a winner team, so I think it’s going to go really well in the future.”

 

What’s so much different about the Thunder versus the Jazz?

 

“It’s everything,” he said. “The fans, the coaches, the team, the atmosphere is amazing. Everything is falling into place and I’ve never felt anything like that before. It’s so different.

 

“It wasn’t just basketball stuff. It was professionalism of the team. After I see in OKC, I see this is how NBA teams are. You know how you’re like in a dream and you have a superpower and just don’t want to open your eyes and end the dream? Oklahoma City’s been like that to me.”

 

Kanter was careful to point out that he would not consider his time with the Jazz a “nightmare.”

 

“I did not say that. I still respect them,” he said. “I still like my coaches here, I still have friends here, some friends here, not a lot. But still, I’m just saying I don’t want to make no comments on them, but I think when after I went to OKC I was like, ‘Oh man, this is how an NBA team is.'”

The post Enes Kanter Says He ‘Never Liked’ Playing for Jazz appeared first on SLAM.

In Sunday’s win over the Bulls, Kanter had 18 points and 18 rebounds. Together with fellow big man Steven Adams, Kanter has formed a formidable tag-team. In fact, according to Kanter, the duo already has a nickname: “The Bruise Brothers.” From Anthony Slater of The Oklahoman via Twitter:

Enes Kanter on he and Steven Adams: "They call us the Bruise Brothers"

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) March 15, 2015

The post Enes Kanter and Steven Adams Have a New Nickname: ‘The Bruise Brothers’ appeared first on SLAM.

This column is powered by DraftKings, the leader in daily fantasy sports. Sign up for a chance to win $125,000 in prizes. Entry is only $3.

Accommodating injuries to your star players is never ideal, but there is always a way for a fantasy championship contender to resolve such issues. As the season winds down, there are always new players putting up productive box score lines, whether it be due to injury or league wide roster decisions and trades. The best fantasy owners are actively perusing the waiver wire or looking for the best value at all times, with the understanding that the season is a marathon and not a sprint.

For the Chicago Bulls, as long as Derrick Rose is out of the lineup (an estimated 4-6 weeks after successful surgery on Friday), Aaron Brooks will definitely have some traction in most fantasy leagues. He can put up some explosive numbers if need be, and even if the Bulls bring in an additional point guard, it would likely be for insurance purposes only. Players like Jimmy Butler and Tony Snell will also be expected to shoulder a greater scoring load at times. You can avoid Kirk Hinrich at this point, who is fantasy irrelevant even if he were to play an entire game at the point. If you are a contender and somebody trigger happy in your league dropped Rose, it’s not a bad idea to pick him up if you have room to stash him. There’s a lot of negative press around Rose’s ability to return to form despite the Bulls’ timetable, but removing the damaged portion of his meniscus could actually have Rose back during the championship round of most fantasy playoffs, performing at a high level.

In Boston, Jared Sullinger‘s absence has already led to a 20-point outburst from newly acquired Jonas Jerebko, but don’t expect that to happen on a consistent basis. Kelly Olynyk is the most likely candidate to finish strong from here on out, as he is set to return himself from an injury. Tyler Zeller, who has had a breakout season of sorts so far, should also provide a slight uptick in production for fantasy owners.

Kemba Walker is reportedly eyeing a mid-March return from meniscus surgery, but until then Mo Williams will have some very productive nights for the Charlotte Hornets as the starting point guard. There’s a reason they brought him in. Even when Walker comes back, don’t be surprised to see Williams see a lot of court time when the Hornets need scoring—which is a lot. Lance Stephenson‘s impossibly low value could get even lower as a result. Charlotte is currently tied for the 8th and final playoff spot in the East, so they aren’t going to put Stephenson on the court more than they need to.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have found their center, in the form of Enes Kanter. Even with Steven Adams closing in on a return from injury, with the departure of Kendrick Perkins you can expect Coach Scott Brooks to give Kanter the heavy majority of the minutes. He has been a great fit from a chemistry perspective, and is a great source of scoring while the Thunder wait to get Kevin Durant back. You can definitely expect Kanter’s monster numbers over the last four games to continue over the course of the season (nearly 16 points and 9 rebounds per game). He’s not going to block shots for his fantasy owners, but that’s a minor quip at this point in the season.

Chris Bosh is going to miss the rest of the season for Miami, and the Heat went out and signed Michael Beasley to a 10-day contract. It’s hard to see him doing anything at all, which leaves players like Chris Andersen and Udonis Haslem with a much bigger role. The problem, is both of them are nearing the end of their careers and can only do so much from a fantasy perspective. If the Heat had signed Andray Blatche, he could have provided a major boost to their lineup assuming he played to last year’s level, but management simply didn’t go that route. Unless you are desperate, t’s probably best to avoid all Heat big men not named Hassan Whiteside.

James Harden is carrying the Rockets through the regular season, but for them to make any noise in the playoffs, they will need Dwight Howard back in the lineup. He is likely to be re-evaluated in a week or so, but the Rockets aren’t going to put him back on the court until they are sure he is ready to go. He is still probably going to be back around mid-March, but it’s been a roller coaster for his owners this year. His drop-off in production is likely explained by the knee, so he could be much closer to elite when he gets back on the court. In the meantime, Terrence Jones is a great piece to own and Donatas Motiejunas will continue to have value in deeper leagues. Even when Dwight returns, Jones has finally reestablished himself as the player he was projected to be, averaging over 3 blocks per game over the past 4.

Pacers fans are holding out hope that Paul George can get back in the lineup this month and push the team into one of the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. There’s a lot of debate as to whether or not he should return at all, even if he is 100 percent cleared by doctors. For some, being 100 percent cleared means the injury is healed and that George should play if he can get into game shape. The Pacers sit only a game back of the final spot in the East, so it’s not out of the question. Additionally, PG-13 continues to act as though he wants to play, but fantasy owners shouldn’t expect last year’s version even if he is able to get into game action. Averaging in the mid- to high-teens in scoring would nevertheless be a good boost for any fantasy contender.

Dan Hanna is SLAM’s weekly fantasy basketball columnist and a life-long Bulls fan. Follow him on Twitter @i_am_danhan. For advice on your fantasy team, post questions in the comments section.

Images via Getty

The post Fantasy Basketball: Opportunity and Injury appeared first on SLAM.

The second half of the season looks bright for the Oklahoma City Thunder. With last night’s road win over the Charlotte Hornets, OKC earned its fifth straight victory behind 33 points, 10 assists and 7 boards from Russell Westbrook.

Big man Serge Ibaka added his own double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds. Newly acquired Enes Kanter contributed 10 points and 13 boards, and DJ Augustin scored 12 in the win as Kevin Durant rested his foot on the bench.

The Hornets had some success too with their new guy—Mo Williams. He finished with a team-high 24 points and 12 assists, including his 1,000th career 3-pointer:

Despite four starters in double-doubles including a 20-point, 12-board performance from Al Jefferson, the OKC Thunder took the win on the road to continue their charge up the standings in the West.

Pelicans 105 (28-27), Heat 91 (23-31)

The Pelicans lost Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson to injury in last night’s visit to Miami, but what they didn’t lose was the game. Eric Gordon scored 24 points, 16 of which he dropped in the third when the Pels outscored the Heat by 10. Four other men for New Orleans finished in double-figs, including former Heat player Norris Cole with 12 points in his debut.

Goran Dragic also scored 12 in his debut for the Heat, but Miami failed to complete the victory at home, never holding the lead once and trailing by as many as 25 during the night. The Heat will be without Chris Bosh for the remainder of the season due to blood clots on one of his lungs. Get well soon, CB.

Bulls 112 (35-21), Suns 107 (29-27)

The Chicago Bulls earned their fifth win in six games last night against the visiting Phoenix Suns. Pau Gasol finished with 22 points and 14 rebounds, and five other Bulls scored in double-figs for the win to spoil Brandon Knight’s debut with the Suns. Phoenix also had six of their nine players who saw minutes in double-figures, and they shot 53.4 percent from the field but they simply couldn’t convert the numbers to a win, dropping their seventh loss in eight games. They did come close though…with 25.9 seconds left in the game, Markieff Morris sank a 3-pointer to bring Phoenix within a single point. But successful free throws from Derrick Rose (16 points) and Jimmy Butler (19 points) and missed 3-pointers from Eric Bledsoe (13 points) and PJ Tucker (20 points) put the stamp on the end of the game.

Rockets 98 (37-18), Raptors 76 (37-18)

The Houston Rockets spoiled the Toronto Raptors’ five-game road winning streak last night by blowing out their visitors from The North. Corey Brewer scored a season- and team-high 26 points to go along with 10 rebounds and 5 steals in the win. James Harden added 20 points, 16 of which came in the third quarter as Houston outscored Toronto 28-17. Harden also dished this sweet behind-the-back pass:

Both teams committed 23 turnovers each, so that wasn’t pretty at all. It was an off-night for Toronto especially who struggled with scoring, only shooting 32.5 percent from the field. That 17-point #3rdQofDoom is what put them away though. James Johnson’s game-high 27 points couldn’t dig ‘em out of the hole at that point.

Clippers 126 (37-19), Kings 99 (19-35)

The Los Angeles Clippers won their match-up against the Sacramento Kings last night in blowout fashion. After trailing by five points at the end of the first quarter, the Clips went off in the second. They put up a whopping 42 points and held the Kings to just 18. In that second quarter, Jamal Crawford (23 points and 6 assists) dished out this nice pass to Austin Rivers (career-high 28 points and 3 steals) for the slam:

After the game, the Clips continued the fun:

DeMarcus Cousins led the Kings with 21 points and Omri Casspi added 11 points and 17 boards for new head coach George Karl, but the Kings didn’t shoot well from the floor. They went 34.1 percent from the field and 25 percent from 3-point land, compared to the Clippers’ respective 48.4 percent and 40 percent.

The post Post Up: Old Faces, New Places appeared first on SLAM.

(Jackson’s hilarious elation after joining the Pistons likely didn’t aid matters either.)

Russell Westbrook: "We have a chance of winning a championship and if Reggie is not here we still have a chance of winning a championship."

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 19, 2015

Durant on deadline day: "We felt like everybody wanted to be here except for one guy."

— Royce Young (@royceyoung) February 20, 2015

Durant on Reggie Jackson: "He got what he wanted. (Pause, thinking) He got what he wanted."

— Royce Young (@royceyoung) February 20, 2015

Once the deals were complete, Westbrook said he doesn’t want to get involved in the OKC Thunder’s front-office moves.

Per The Oklahoman:

And hours before general manager Sam Presti pulled the trigger, Russell Westbrook – one of the franchise’s two cornerstone – said he and Kevin Durant had no desire to be consulted on the decision.

 

“Not my job,” Westbrook said. “My job is to come out and play. We have a great general manager, great owner and great coach who have done a great job thus far putting this team together. So I’m pretty sure they know what’s best for us.”

 

When asked if Presti ever comes to them to gather their opinion, Westbrook reiterated his previous answer in the most Westbrook way possible. […] “I don’t want to repeat the same answer, so whatever I just said last time use it as that answer,” he said.

The post Russell Westbrook Doesn’t Want to Be Consulted on Thunder Trades appeared first on SLAM.

The big fella is putting up 14 points and 7.8 boards a night, while playing career-high 27 minutes per game this season. The soon-to-be free agent is not happy with the way head coach Quin Snyder has utilized him.

Kanter, 22, hopes to be shopped by the Feb.19 trade deadline.

Per the Salt Lake Tribune:

Kanter expressed his frustration after Wednesday’s 87-82 loss to the Mavericks, a game in which Kanter left with an eye injury and did not play in the fourth quarter despite his claim that he was healthy enough to play. […] “It was not my eye at all. I don’t know what it was, but it was not my eye at all. So we’ll see what’s going to happen,” Kanter said after the game, declining to elaborate further.

 

But for the third-overall pick in the 2011 draft, the frustrations are about more than one night. Kanter grew tired of empty promises of playing time during his time under Tyrone Corbin and remains frustrated by the inconsistency of his role.

 

The Jazz and coach Quin Snyder have tried to balance time among their four primary big men — Kanter, Derrick Favors, Rudy Gobert and Trevor Booker. Snyder has admitted in the past that it has been hard to find time in some games for all four, and said matchups and performance would dictate who got minutes most nights.

The post Enes Kanter Hopes the Utah Jazz Trade Him appeared first on SLAM.

Photos via Getty Images

Previously:
Week of December 5 – December 11
Week of November 28 – December 4

The post NBA Photos Of The Week appeared first on SLAM.

A fan recovered the wet, nasty thing, and Kanter joked that he hopes a lawsuit isn’t forthcoming.

Kanter apologized for losing his cool, but the NBA still fined him $25K.

1) I sincerely apologies 1st from Sacramento fans and the @NBA for last night’s incident.

— Enes Kanter (@Enes_Kanter) December 9, 2014

2) Never intend or aim to throw anyone it was just out of frustration and fully take responsibility and never occur again.

— Enes Kanter (@Enes_Kanter) December 9, 2014

From the Salt Lake Tribune:

Late in the third quarter, Kanter was called for a traveling violation and the Jazz big man responded by spiking the ball to the ground and then throwing his mouthpiece into the crowd. […] “It was the intensity, man. You know what I mean?” said Kanter, who scored 13 points and had six rebounds in the 101-92 loss. “We’ve been losing, so I’m just pissed. I’m pissed at something. I don’t want to say what it is, but I was just pissed and that’s just how I [reacted].”

 

Kanter wouldn’t elaborate further on the source of his frustration. But, as we’ve mentioned, the Jazz have now lost nine games in a row and those losses weigh heavily on Kanter. […] “Really heavy,” he said. “We just have to get a win. … This is the ninth one. We just cannot get used to losing, you know what I mean. We just have to break that bad luck, or whatever it is, and get a win.”

 

As for that mouthpiece? […] “At least he caught it,” Kanter said. “Right? At least the guy caught it. He’s not going to sue me, I hope.”

The post Enes Kanter Fined $25,000 for Throwing Mouthpiece in Crowd (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

Kanter will be a restricted free agent in the summer of 2015.

The deadline for NBA rookie extensions for the draft class of 2011 is Friday at midnight ET.

Per Yahoo! Sports:

“We have mutually agreed with Utah to concentrate on the season and look at our options again in the summer,” agent Max Ergul said in a telephone interview. “Enes likes Utah and the organization very much, and now he can concentrate on continuing to grow as a player and helping them win.”

 

The Jazz are still engaged in discussions with shooting guard Alec Burks, who is also eligible for a rookie extension before Friday night’s deadline.

 

As a restricted free agent, the Jazz could match an offer sheet and retain Kanter. After failing to agree on an extension with Utah a year ago, Gordon Hayward signed a four-year, $63 million maximum offer sheet with Charlotte in July – only to have Utah match and keep him.

The post Enes Kanter to Become a Free Agent Next Summer appeared first on SLAM.

Photos via Getty Images

Previously:
Week of October 3 – October 9
Week of September 26 – October 2

The post NBA Photos Of The Week appeared first on SLAM.

Enes Kanter took advantage of a Clipper defensive breakdown and gave DeAndre Jordan a little taste of his own medicine on Friday. Kanter may have even surprised himself with that one.

The post Enes Kanter Throws Down Big Dunk on DeAndre Jordan (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

Bulls 89 (22-21), Bobcats 87 (19-27)

D.J. Augustin (28 points, 6-12 on 3-pointers) and Joakim Noah (11 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists) continued to lead the way for the Rose-less and Deng-less Bulls. Noah has now grabbed 10 boards in 16 straight games—the longest such streak in his career. Al Jefferson (32 points, 13 rebounds, 3 blocks) looked good in the losing effort, as Charlotte has lost its last two games. After Augustin made a 3-pointer with 8:42 left in the game, the Bulls extended their lead to 67-57, doing a good job of keeping everyone not named Al Jefferson at bay. Every time Charlotte started to get within striking distance, Augustin stepped up, having 15 points in the 4th quarter. Jefferson finished the game by making the fourth 3-pointer of his career.

Clippers 126 (31-15), Raptors 118 (22-21)

Jamal Crawford (37 points, 11 assists, 5-11 on 3-pointers) and Blake Griffin (30 points, 5 rebounds) might have looked good as the Clippers won their eighth game in the last ten, but this night belonged to Terrence Ross (51 points, 9 rebounds, 10-17 on 3-pointers). Ross came out of nowhere and became the first person averaging less than 10 ppg to score 50 points in League history. He also tied Vince Carter for the Raptors’ franchise-high scoring performance and came one point away from doubling his previous career high (26). He got to this record by scoring in different ways, making plenty of dunks and 3-pointers for Toronto fans to always remember. However, Toronto was unable to play any sort of defense, allowing the Clippers to shoot 54.8 percent (46-84) from the field and 54.5 percent (12-22) on 3-pointers. The Clippers got what they wanted all night long. After these two teams went back and forth early in the 4th quarter, J.J. Redick (18 points) came up big, scoring 10 of his 18 points in the final 6:22. DeMar DeRozan (10 points, 3 assists) left the game in the 3rd quarter with a left ankle sprain and did not return.

Thunder 103 (35-10), 76ers 91 (14-30)

Kevin Durant (32 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 steals) has scored 30 points in ten straight games as the Thunder have won seven straight games. Durant is one of only six players to have such a streak since 1990. Serge Ibaka (25 points, 11 rebounds, 5 blocks) played extremely well, being the defensive force he has grown accustomed to being. Ibaka had three of his blocks in the first four minutes of the game. The Thunder would go on to outscore the Thunder 27-18 in the 2nd quarter and be in control the rest of the way. After James Anderson (19 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals) made two free throws with 5:18 left in the 3rd quarter, though, the Sixers cut the deficit to 69-65. The Thunder responded by going on a 14-6 run to close out the quarter. The Thunder finished the game shooting 52.6 percent while the Sixers only shot 37.8 percent. Philadelphia was able to stay in this game due to OKC’s 20 turnovers. But no matter what they threw at Durant defensively, the League’s current scoring champ tore their schemes apart.

Grizzlies 99 (22-20), Rockets 81 (29-17)

Memphis has now won two straight games against the Rockets and pulled within a game and a half of the eighth seed in the West. They pulled out the win Saturday by means of a balanced attack (six players in double-digits) and solid team defense. Dwight Howard (10 points, 12 rebounds) managed to get a double-double but the Grizzlies held him to only four made field goals. As Mike Conley (17 points, 4 assists) and Zach Randolph (15 points, 17 rebounds) led the way per usual, James Johnson (12 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, 4 steals) had another solid performance. Since being called up by the Grizzlies in mid-December, Johnson has been a nice surprise and scored double-digits in eight of 19 games. The Grizzlies held the Rockets to only 54 points through the first three quarters, putting up 71 of their own. This is only the second time this season the Rockets have been held below 100 points in back-to-back games. Memphis controlled the paint, outscoring Houston 56-32 in the paint and outrebounding them 52-38.

Hawks 112 (23-20), Bucks 87 (8-35)

With each successive game, the Bucks look more and more like the worst team in the NBA, being the only team that hasn’t reached double-digit wins or five home wins. The Hawks were without Jeff Teague (ankle) but Lou Williams (18 points, 5 assists) filled in nicely as Paul Millsap (20 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals) led the way. Brandon Knight (27 points, 5 assists, 11-15 from the field, 5-7 on 3-pointers) looked good offensively but didn’t get much help from his teammates. John Henson (10 points, 10 rebounds) had a double-double. After Knight made a 3-pointer with 6:10 left in the 1st quarter, the Bucks led 14-10—their largest lead of the game. Atlanta responded by going on a 11-2 run, capped off by a Kyle Korver (12 points, 3-4 on 3-pointers) 3-pointer. Korver has now made at least one 3-pointer in 112 straight games. The Hawks never game up the lead the rest of the way, shooting 52.6 percent from the field. The Bucks finished with 20 turnovers, many of them simply coming from lazy passes. Adding insult to injury, Larry Sanders (1 point, 4 rebounds, 0-5 from the field) just recently signed a 4-year, $44-million contract this past summer…and still has nothing to show for it.

Nuggets 109 (21-21), Pacers 96 (34-9)

The Pacers let the Nuggets get too much from inside as Kenneth Faried (13 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks), Timofey Mozgov (15 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks) and J.J. Hickson (14 points, 13 rebounds, 2 steals) collectively outplayed Roy Hibbert (5 points, 3 rebounds), David West (16 points, 6 rebounds) and Luis Scola (6 points, 7 rebounds). Nate Robinson (15 points) and Ty Lawson (12 points, 10 assists) incessantly ran the pick-and-roll, exploiting a weakness in the Pacers defense. Lance Stephenson (23 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists) made more of a case to be an All-Star. Wilson Chandler (season-high 25 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists) had one of his best games of the season on both ends of the floor, holding Paul George (18 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists) to 6-18 shooting from the field. Seven of nine Denver players scored in double-digits. The Nuggets held a 55-36 lead at halftime, before Indiana went on their usual run in the 3rd quarter. However, Denver held their own, making enough stops to pull away in the final quarter. Randy Foye (12 points, 5 rebounds) is known for his long-range shooting but made some big defensive plays in the second half that kept the Pacers from getting within reaching distance. The Nuggets could have pulled away much quicker and easier if they had made their free throws (21-37).

Jazz 104 (15-29), Wizards 101 (21-22)

Washington has now lost their last 10 games when trying to get above .500. They couldn’t seem to stop Enes Kanter (24 points, 11-13 from the field), who had one of his most efficient games of the season. Trey Burke (12 points, 8 assists) and the Jazz made a concerted effort to keep feeding Kanter the ball down low. Fellow big man Derrick Favors (11 points, 14 rebounds) also had a solid game, recording his 14th double-double of the season. With the departure of Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap, Jazz ownership expected more of these type of performances from these two. Alec Burks (15 points) continued to be a scoring punch off the bench. Trevor Ariza (23 points, 5 rebounds, 6-10 on 3-pointers) was shooting the ball very well and Marcin Gortat (14 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks) had a double-double. The Jazz seemed to be in control going into the finals quarter. However, John Wall (13 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists) kept leading rallies that made this game have a close finish. Gordon Hayward (16 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists) sealed the deal by making 2-2 free throws with 2.6 seconds left. After losing eight in a row, six in a row and four in a row in the first 23 games, Utah hasn’t lost three games in a row over their last 21 games.

Blazers 115 (33-11), Timberwolves 104 (21-22)

Speaking of teams struggling to get above .500, the Timberwolves might be becoming less and less desirable as a future destination for their All-Star starter. Thanks to solid play from their starting lineup and sixth man Mo Williams (16 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds), the Blazers have now already matched the amount of wins they had all of last season. Big men LaMarcus Aldridge (21 points, 6 rebounds) and Robin Lopez (15 points, 10 rebounds) battled Kevin Love (15 points, 13 rebounds) and Nikola Pekovic (23 points, 11 rebounds) all night. Portland outscored Minnesota 60-46 in the paint. Kevin Martin (30 points, 6-10 on 3-pointers) had his shot going while Ricky Rubio (10 points, 11 assists) played the role of distributor. The Blazers just had too much offense from too many places on the floor, using a 16-4 run in the 2nd quarter to take control of this game. Their starting lineup is collectively able to score from down low, midrange, penetration and 3-point shooting. After Pekovic made a hookshot with 8:29 left in the game, Minnesota only trailed 93-86. But the Blazers would then go on a 12-2 run to put this one out of reach for good.

The post Post Up: T-Ross Goes Off appeared first on SLAM.

OKC Thunder guard Reggie Jackson raced past Utah Jazz big man Enes Kanter for a big, and-1 finish on the fastbreak.

The post Reggie Jackson Dunks on Enes Kanter (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter are getting a new, formidable instructor. Karl Malone has signed up for a part-time gig to coach the Utah Jazz’s big fellas. Per the Salt Lake Tribune: “Malone was approached by head coach Tyrone Corbin about the possibility of him working with Favors and Kanter after the season. The franchise’s chain of command recently signed off on the idea and CEO Greg Miller spoke of the team’s new relationship during a Wednesday afternoon radio interview. ‘Everything is about timing,’ Malone said, ‘and the timing is right. The fact they think I might be able to help is pretty neat. … I’m not getting bored or anything. I’ve got plenty to do. But I also grew up playing basketball my whole life, so this is exciting for me.’ At the same time, Malone didn’t make any promises. He called Favors and Kanter ‘two of the most talented bigs in the NBA right now’ but added, “If someone is looking for Karl Malone to come in and wave a magic wand, that ain’t happening. These kids will be as good as they want to be. It’s up to them.’ Malone has already started working with Favors. Kanter will join the sessions ‘probably in about a month,’ after he fully recovers from shoulder surgery. According to Malone, he will approach his new role as mentor ‘the same way I played — with everything I’ve got.’ Malone is concerned that his part-time return to the Jazz might be misconstrued as something more. ‘I’m not going to be sitting on the bench,’ he said, ‘and I’m not going to be taking over any meetings. We’ll take some small baby steps and go from there. … I don’t want to be a distraction.'”

The post Karl Malone to Coach Utah Jazz Big Men appeared first on SLAM.

Not a big surprise here—Utah Jazz big man Enes Kanter’s season is done. He will undergo surgery to repair his dislocated left shoulder. Per the Salt Lake Tribune: “The procedure, general manager Dennis Lindsey said, reduces the chances of the 20-year-old reinjuring his shoulder. ‘Frankly, this is good news,’ Lindsey said. ‘The probability as given to us that something would happen to the shoulder is no greater than a shoulder that’s never been injured before.’ He said the likelihood of further injury was reduced by ‘surgical reattachment rather than straight rehab.’ Kanter, the No. 3 pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, suffered the injury March 27 in a win against the Phoenix Suns when he wrestled on the floor for a loose ball with Suns center Hamed Haddadi. […] ‘It’s tough,’ said Al Jefferson, Kanter’s mentor. ‘Especially because we can’t have him for the rest of the year. But it’s all about him getting back 100 percent, having the surgery that he needs so he can focus this offseason on getting back healthy.’ The Jazz are not announcing a timetable for Kanter’s return to basketball activities, which would include July summer league in Orlando, Fla.”

The post Enes Kanter to Undergo Season-Ending Shoulder Surgery appeared first on SLAM.

Yesterday, the basketball world saw Jazz forward Enes Kanter gruesomely dislocate his left shoulder while diving for a loose ball, and today the news came down hard: the second-year big man will be out indefinitely. Via the Salt Lake Tribune: “If the Jazz make the playoffs, they might have to do it without Enes Kanter. Kanter was injured in the second quarter of the Jazz’s 103-88 win over Phoenix on Wednesday night. The Suns’ Hamed Haddadi landed on top of Kanter as they scrambled after the ball. ‘He dive for the loose ball and I dive, too,’ Haddadi said. ‘We both went for the basketball and I don’t know what happened after that. But when I saw his shoulder I say, Ouch. Such things happen in basketball. I will just pray for him and I wish him well.'”

The post Enes Kanter Out Indefinitely With Dislocated Shoulder appeared first on SLAM.

Early in the second quarter of the Utah Jazz’s 103-88 win against the Phoenix Suns, Enes Kanter went down and his left shoulder gruesomely popped out of place. An MRI will determine the severity of the injury for the second-year big man. Per the Salt Lake Tribune: “It was tough to look at. The first major injury of Enes Kanter’s NBA career happened on Wednesday night in Utah’s 103-88 win over the Phoenix Suns at EnergySolutions Arena. His dislocated shoulder caused his arm to dangle by his side after a hard collision with Hamed Haddadi. After both big men went to the floor, Kanter staggered to his feet like a punch-drunk boxer. He wanted to stay in the game, but the pain was too great. The crowd gasped at the vision of a shoulder popped out of place, the bone seemingly threatening to break through skin. ‘It disconnected after I fell to the ground and the other guy fell on my arm,’ Kanter said. A second-year center for the Jazz, Kanter will have an MRI (Thursday) to determine how much time he will miss, if any. The general consensus is that Kanter will be on the shelf for as much as two weeks, the worst stretch of the season for him to be inactive due to the Western Conference playoff push. […] True to Kanter’s 2013 persona, he fielded questions afterward with a slick hat and a sling on his left arm. He spoke of text messages and females asking him if he was OK. He spoke of pain, and the fact that he was feeling none at that moment. He also spoke of the process of getting back as soon as possible. ‘I just have to get the MRI and go from there,’ Kanter said. ‘My shoulder is disconnected, but I’m alright. I just want to return because I want to help the team make the postseason.'”

The post Enes Kanter Dislocates His Left Shoulder (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

Enes Kanter is looking a whole lot better than he did last season. The second-year big made food of the Thunder last night, dropping a cool 12 and 12, plus this monster cram, in just 18 minutes.

The post Enes Kanter Huge Reverse Dunk on Cole Aldrich (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

Utah Jazz big man Enes Kanter is a new person coming into his second NBA season — almost quite literally. Kanter told the media in Utah that he shed 51 pounds during the summer. Per the Deseret News: “Kanter came to Salt Lake weighing 51 pounds less than he did after packing on about 20 postseason pounds during a trip home that apparently included way too much Turkish delight. When he wasn’t snapping shots of his frivolous free time, the 6-foot-11 big spent massive amounts of time pumping iron, exercising and training on the court for his sophomore season. That hard work resulted in him reporting to camp weighing in at a svelte-but-sculpted 242 pounds. ‘He lost a lot of weight,’ Jazz forward Paul Millsap noticed. ‘He’s a lot more mobile. He can get down the court better.’ The second-year pro credited ‘The Enes Kanter Diet’ for helping him shed a whopping 51 pounds in two months. The simple regiment: dressing-free salads, seafood and a smorgasbord of tweets. A sample day in the eating life of chunkier Kanter: a six-egg omelet, seven or eight pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream and a burrito for breakfast; chicken alfredo pasta, a burger and an appetizer for lunch; and a big meal including another burger and dessert for dinner. ‘Now, I play faster, more explosive,’ Kanter said.”

The post Enes Kanter Lost 51 Pounds in the Offseason appeared first on SLAM.

by Eldon Khorshidi | @eldonadam

Today, roughly a year after the Lockout callously uprooted the NBA Summer League, the basketball world is finally within arms length of its long-awaited return to equilibrium.

For the next five days, the Orlando Magic will graciously open up its practice facility at the Amway Center to host the AirTran Airways Orlando Pro Summer League. The eight-team, 20-game event commences today, July 9, and runs through Friday, July 13, with every game broadcasted live on NBA TV.

The league will feature the Magic, Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder, Philadelphia 76ers and Detroit Pistons.

Unlike the Las Vegas Summer League, which begins Friday and will field a record 24 teams, the Orlando Summer League is not open to public viewing, as only media and NBA personnel are permitted on site. This is strictly because of space limitations, as the practice court can accommodate roughly 300 guests. But despite the relative seclusion and small number of participants, the league will showcase six playoff teams and seven first-round Draft picks throughout the week.

While summer league is a period of enjoyment and anticipation for the fans, it’s all business for the guys involved. Let’s take a look at players on each team with the most to prove during their time in Orlando.

Brooklyn Nets: MarShon Brooks

After a very solid rookie campaign, posting averages of 12.6 points and 2.3 assists per game, Brooks should be one of the leading scorers in Orlando. With the Nets’ current roster, it looks like Brooks will spearhead the scoring load on the second unit. Coming into his sophomore campaign, Avery Johnson is hoping Brooks can be more prudent with his shot selection and take what is given, not trying to force anything that isn’t there. If he can show he is comfortable within the constraints of an offense, then Brooks should be in good shape. After all, he may have no choice but to get comfortable in Orlando, as he could very well find himself in a Magic uniform come next season.

Boston Celtics: JaJuan Johnson, Jared Sullinger

With no summer league and not much time for contending teams to experiment with their rookies, Johnson never got a real chance to show what he can contribute. In the small flashes of playing time he did get, though, Johnson showcased two things the Celtics desperately needed: athleticism and versatility. He’s not the most explosive player, but Johnson has range out to 17 feet and jumps well for his size. Now we’ll see if he can put his skills in use, and give Doc Rivers a reason to increase his role going forward.

As for Sullinger, well, you know the story by now. The once-projected top-7 pick slid to the 21st pick in this year’s draft because of a medically “red-flagged” back. Criticism about his lack of athleticism and “inadequate” body frame accentuated his health concerns and led to numerous teams passing on him. Being one of the more competitive players in the rookie class, Sullinger will be out to prove his critics wrong and show that his game can, and will, translate to the NBA level.

Indiana Pacers: Lance Stephenson

Stephenson has spent the majority of his first two NBA seasons on the bench in Indiana, and in all reality, this is a make-or-break summer for Lance. This is his time to step up and prove that he’s ready to be, at the least, a solid rotation player. With his biggest supporter (Larry Bird) no longer with the organization and his contract not guaranteed for next season, the time is now for Stephenson.

In his first and only summer league two years ago, Stephenson was arguably the best player in all of Orlando. But with concerns about his defense and maturity, and a stack of guards ahead of him in Indiana, Lance never got a chance to prove himself on the court. In the Pacers’ season finale vs the Bulls, though, Lance played a career high 35 minutes and didn’t disappoint. In his first start as a professional, he scored 22 points on 10-15 shooting. Now it’s time to build on that.

Utah Jazz: Enes Kanter

Kanter played well last season (4.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 13.2 mpg), especially considering he was thrown onto a team that was loaded on the frontline and consistently in the fray. Still, the second-year forward could certainly use some grooming in summer league. Kanter has great hands around the rim and is very bulky, which makes him hard to defend once he catches the ball in the paint. He’s already a good rebounder, and if he can develop a 15-foot jumper and some solid footwork to operate on the block, Kanter would not only continue his ascension towards a solid NBA career but would make Paul Millsap, Al Jefferson and Derrick Favors more expendable.

Orlando Magic: Ishmael Smith

There are more intriguing names on Orlando’s roster, such as Andrew Nicholson, Kyle O’Quinn or Justin Harper, but in terms of can this guy play or not?, I think the most pressure is on Smith.

Smith has already been on four teams in only two NBA seasons, but contrary to what you would probably assume, he’s played well when given the opportunity. He showed flashes of good court vision in Houston, didn’t get much of an opportunity in Memphis and Golden State, and seemed out of place in 20 games with a dysfunctional Magic squad last year. Smith’s window to prove he belongs is slowly closing though, as he’s currently an unrestricted free agent. These next fives days are his league-wide audition, something he needs to capitalize on.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Reggie Jackson, Perry Jones III, Latavious Williams

While OKC’s main trio is out in Vegas preparing for the London Olympics, three guys on the Thunder’s summer league roster will have the microscope on them as well.

For Jackson, it’s time to show that he’s made strides offensively, enough to give Scott Brooks confidence to play him next season. The Thunder brought in Derek Fisher after Eric Maynor’s knee injury because they didn’t feel comfortable handing over the second unit to Jackson. Jackson has always been a solid defender, but he got flustered on offense a lot, turning the ball over and not doing much in terms of getting his teammates open. I love his tenacity and athleticism, but those skills alone won’t get you minutes at the point guard spot.

In terms of Perry Jones, well, much like Sullinger you already know the backdrop. A reported bummed knee coupled with character questions and having no definite “position” on the NBA level led to Jones plummeting to the 28th pick on draft night. Still, he could wind up being the steal of the Draft, as Jones has lottery talent and arguably the best raw tools among all rookies. It’ll be real interesting to see whether Jones plays the 3 or the 4 (or both), and to see if he’s developed a mental toughness that wasn’t always on display at Baylor.

Williams is the first player in NBA history to go straight from high school to the D-League. He was drafted by the Thunder (via Miami) in the second round of the 2010 Draft and is still out to prove he can play in the League. I honestly don’t know too much about Williams, and that’s part of the reason he fascinates me. He’s a 6-8 swingman who, at only 23 years old, still has a lot of untapped potential. Running on an athletic OKC summer league squad could bring out the best in him.

Detroit Pistons: Andre Drummond, Kyle Singler

Drummond is considered by many to be the definition of high risk, high reward as he has all the physical tools to be a star but has questions marks on his footwork, motor and work ethic. Still, at 7-foot, he jumps out of the gym and runs the floor like a gazelle, and if he pans out, would make a very scary frontcourt in Detroit playing alongside Greg Monroe.

Singler will finally make his NBA debut after playing in Spain last season. Over the span of 36 regular season games for Real Madrid, the former Duke forward averaged 8 points per game, shooting 54 percent from the field and 43 percent from behind the arc. It’ll be interesting to see what role Singler can play on an NBA team, and if nothing else, it’ll be great to see him competing in the States.

Philadelphia 76ers: Lavoy Allen

After doing an admirable job guarding Kevin Garnett throughout the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Allen gained the respect and support of Doug Collins and virtually all Sixers fans. Allen is an even-keeled guy who comes to work every day looking to get better, and that’s exactly what he’ll do in Orlando. If he can polish his offensive game a bit, Allen will carve out a lengthy NBA career. His next step towards improvement begins today.

The post Orlando Summer League: Most to Prove appeared first on SLAM.

by Eldon Khorshidi | @eldonadam

The NBA Draft is arguably the most important event for teams around the League. Drafting the right or wrong guy can sometimes decide whether your franchise moves in a direction of success or failure. For lottery teams, making the wrong pick—or passing up on the right guy—can move your franchise one, two or three steps in reverse, which in NBA lexicon means settling into the League’s basement for who knows how long.

While many of the most consequential, make-or-break picks come at the top of the Draft, teams can still improve their rosters through shrewd selection outside the lottery and into the second round. Sometimes you can strike gold (too many to name, but for instance Tony Parker [28th] or Monta Ellis [40th]), but most of the time you will address a small-but-important roster need which can help propel the organization forward.

The 2011 Draft had featured just one can’t-miss guy in Kyrie Irving, but after Irving the field was wide open. With a decent glimpse at last season’s rookies and with the next Draft upon us, let’s take a quick look back and evaluate last year’s selections, retroactively correct some mistakes and see how the Top 20 picks could’ve gone down.

No. 1 pick: The Cleveland Cavaliers select Kyrie Irving

Season: 18.5 ppg, 5.4 apg, 3.7 rpg, 1.1 spg, 30.5 mpg

Pick in 2011 NBA Draft: Kyrie Irving

After just one season, it’s already clear Cleveland has a new face to its franchise. Irving had a sensational rookie year, impacting almost every game he played in. He can do it all—shoot, pass, take his man one-on-one and maestro an entire offense. Through his first 23 games, Irving already had 10 games with 20-plus points, including one vs the Nets in which he scored 32 points, 21 coming in the fourth quarter.

Irving sets the tone early and finishes games in crunch time. His confidence and poise augment his physical skills, and if he can remain healthy, Irving will be a perennial All-Star and a potential MVP candidate.

No. 2 pick: The Minnesota Timberwolves select Tristan Thompson

Season: 8.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.0 bpg, 23.7 mpg

Pick in 2011 NBA Draft: Derrick Williams

When explaining how to evaluate rookie talent, ESPN analyst and renowned basketball instructor David Thorpe once said, “Guys who put up numbers but have no clue how to play are the ones to watch at this age,” and I think that maxim directly applies to Tristan Thompson. Taking Thompson here is no slight on Derrick Williams, but instead a testament to Thompson’s upside.

Even though he’s very weak at this point in his career, Thompson finished second among all rookies in offensive rebound rate, fourth in overall rebound rate and fourth in blocks per game, which speaks to his raw ability and instincts. After being inserted into Cleveland’s starting lineup on March 18, Tristan didn’t disappoint, posting averages of 9.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and just under 1 block per game as a starter. He also scored in double-digits in 10 of his final 16 games despite having zero offensive “moves.” If he can develop his footwork and learn how to operate on the block, Thompson has a scary ceiling. Using his athleticism to compliment Kevin Love’s below-the-rim style of play would’ve been something remarkable, especially in terms of rebounds and second-chance opportunities.

No. 3 pick: The Utah Jazz select Brandon Knight

Season: 12.8 ppg. 3.8 apg, 3.2 rpg, 32.3 mpg

Pick in 2011 NBA Draft: Enes Kanter

This is where I took Knight in SLAMonline’s mock draft last year, and my feelings haven’t changed. Knight would’ve been a seamless fit in Utah. Off the court he’s a blue-collar, hard-working guy, the type that faithful Utes respect and love to root for. On the court, I see Knight as a mix of former Jazz point guard Deron Williams and Chauncey Billups— a score-first PG who sees the bucket and knows how to get there and finish. Williams used his strength and Knight uses his size, but they both made a living by penetrating to the rim. Getting to the hoop is very natural for Knight, but now he needs to refine his jumpshot to keep defenders on their heels. Knight would’ve been a welcomed replacement to the inconsistent and limited Devin Harris.

No. 4 pick: The Cleveland Cavaliers select Derrick Williams

Season: 8.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 21.5 mpg

Pick in 2011 NBA Draft: Tristan Thompson

Even with Thompson off the board, a Kyrie Irving-Derrick Williams duo is promising in its own right. The two could’ve formed a solid pick-and-pop tandem, and been dangerous in the open court. And even if Williams is best suited as a third option, he would be part of Cleveland’s core going forward.

No. 5 pick: The Toronto Raptors select Jonas Valanciunas

Season: Did not play in NBA (Lithuania)

Pick in 2011 NBA Draft: Jonas Valanciunas

I don’t’ know much about Valanciunas, considering I have never seen him play outside of YouTube, but from studying scouting reports and trying to connect the imaginary basketball dots in my brain, it seems that, with a little offensive polish, Valanciunas could have a big impact in Toronto. It was expected for Valanciunas to stay overseas for at least one season after being drafted, and one can assume the Raptors wouldn’t have selected him this high if they didn’t believe he was worth the wait.

Valanciunas is a 7-footer who runs the floor well, is quick off his feet and isn’t averse to getting physical in the paint. He has a tireless motor, can finish at the rim with both panache and power, and is good at setting screens and rolling to the basket. All things considered, (I think) the 20-year-old was a solid pick by Toronto.

No. 6 pick: The Washington Wizards select Kawhi Leonard

Season: 7.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.3 spg, 24.0 mpg

Pick in 2011 NBA Draft: Jan Vesely

Leonard would’ve provided two things that Washington desperately needed last season: stability and consistency. It’s impressive enough to earn minutes as a rookie under Coach Pop, but to start for the majority of the season on the Western Conference’s top-seeded squad is some next-level stuff.

Leonard and John Wall would’ve flourished together. Leonard plays within the offense (he isn’t a ball-stopper), is long and athletic (fast-breaks would’ve been a beauty), and is already a very good defender. Even if he was wide open for most of them, Kawhi also showed improvement on his three-point shot during the season. At worst, Leonard is a “glue guy,” something Washington has long been yearning for. At best, well, if he develops an outside game, he could be an All-Star. The Wizards could’ve really used Kawhi Leonard.

No. 7 pick: The Charlotte Bobcats (via Sacramento) select Bismack Biyombo

Season: 5.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.8 bpg, 23.1 mpg

Pick in 2011 NBA Draft: Bismack Biyombo

All things considered (and there’s a lot, if you think about the state of the Bobcats) Biyombo had a decent rookie season, and showed some promise. He’s very raw right now, but unlike some other undeveloped 7-footers (Hasheem Thabeet, Eddy Curry, etc), he’s not aloof or disinterested. Biyombo has the mindset to dominate and can already block shots extremely well, a skill NBA teams covet. The shot-blocking alone could justify this pick.

No. 8 pick: The Detroit Pistons select MarShon Brooks

Season: 12.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.3 apg, 29.4 mpg

Pick in 2011 NBA Draft: Brandon Knight

With Knight off the board, Brooks is the best fit here because he can flat-out score. Brooks could’ve played well off of Rodney Stuckey, and as he showed this season, has very good upside that would be too hard to pass on here. Brooks is erratic at times and needs to improve his shot selection, but there’s no denying his talent.

No. 9 pick: The Charlotte Bobcats select Kemba Walker

Season: 12.1 ppg, 4.4 apg, 3.5 rpg, 27.2 mpg

Pick in 2011 NBA Draft: Kemba Walker

As is the case with Biyombo, it’s tough to evaluate Kemba after one season. Even with the horrible organizational structure in Charlotte, Walker managed to stick through it and post some solid numbers.

At this point, it’s too early to tell whether Walker is best suited as a starter or sixth man, but whenever I watch Kemba play I see a lot of Tony Parker. Walker has a sensational mid-range game, and is good at splitting screens down the middle and finishing through traffic. His problem right now is that he sometimes panics when he gets in the lane and makes the wrong play. If he can become more astute once he gets into the paint, even more Parker will emerge, and that’s never a bad thing.

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The Utah Jazz drafted Enes Kanter this summer with the third overall pick, but that’s not what Kanter’s Turkish national team coaches and teammates would have advised them to do. From Beyond the Beat: “All the coaching staff and people around basketball think that it is too early for him to go there (to the NBA),’ said Nihat Izic, an assistant head coach of the Turkey National Team. ‘He has the chance to play in the Euro League and then after that, when you feel you are ready, then you go to the NBA. He decided to go, and I’m not sure who gave him that advice. I don’t want to go there.’ Trusting Izic’s opinion on Kanter comes easily. He’s known Kanter since he was a kid growing up in Turkey and hand picked him to be groomed for the national team. It’s part of Izic’s role – to plant and cultivate talented basketball players in Turkey – since being assigned by the Turkish Commission for Youth Basketball to develop such a program in 1994.”

The post Turkish Coach: Enes Kanter Not Ready for the NBA appeared first on SLAM.

According to the rookie big fella’s agent, China is a very real employment possibility for Enes Kanter should the NBA lockout result in the cancellation of games. From the Salt Lake Tribune: “Jazz rookie center Enes Kanter is considering playing professional ball in China next season if the NBA lockout persists. Kanter’s agent, Max Ergul, told The Salt Lake Tribune on Friday that his client has official offers from two Chinese teams. Ergul does not want Kanter to miss another year of basketball, and he will seriously weigh the offers if the lockout stretches into late September. ‘It’s very interesting stuff,’ said Ergul, who said he could not reveal the names of the clubs because details of the negotiations are still confidential. ‘We’ll be entertaining those ideas as well as the lockout progresses. He’s a ballplayer — he has to play.’ Kanter will compete for Turkey during the 2011 EuroBasket tournament, which is scheduled from Aug. 31 to Sept. 18 in Lithuania. He is expected to be scouted by the Chinese teams that have made the offers during the tournament.”

The post Enes Kanter Could Play in China During NBA Lockout appeared first on SLAM.

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Whassup, peoples?! It’s Lang, out of my retirement home and on the case, at least for one night.

I’m here in Newark at the NBA Draft 2011, and I’ll be liveblogging tonight’s proceedings so that we have some sort of historical record of how things go. Thus far, all I can tell you is that the tacos in the media dining room would definitely be a second round selection. Also, they don’t have wireless internet available for the media sitting in front of the stage — they actually have dozens of hardwire connections, which I am told actually works much better. My only problem is that my computer is a MacBook Air, which only uses wireless, so I had to swing a three-team deal involving secret passwords to get some wireless action out here in the seating area. I apologized for using a computer made within the last year.

While we were stuck in the Lincoln Tunnel coming from NYC to Jersey, news of the night’s first trade broke: Three-way deal between Sacto, Milwaukee and the BETcats. The Kings got John Salmons and the number 10 pick, Milwaukee got Stephen Jackson, Beno Udrih, Shaun Livingston and the number 19 pick, and the BETcats get Corey Maggette and the number 7 pick. Brandon and StackJack are gonna shut down the tattoo game up in Wisconsin.

Right now the ESPN pregame show is happening live behind us, but we can’t really hear anything they’re saying. So it’s just a bunch of talking and then an occasional burst of weird music. Not sure when the actual drafting begins.

• We’re experiencing technical difficulties up in here. Now I’m using Tzvi’s computer, and he’s using mine. I’m also nominating myself for best-dressed, because I’m wearing a madras shirt. (I’m going on vacation tomorrow. CAN I LIVE?)

• OK< we’re about to start. The TV feed on all the press tables just went out. So that’s cool. David Stern takes the stage, and he just got booed. He asked the crowd to give it up for New Jersey, which they did.

• Highlights of LeBron just came on over the scoreboard, and he got a bigger boo than Stern. And he’s not even here.

• According to the TV on the press table, the first pick is…static!

• Big crowd here in Jersey, more than come for most Nets games, I’m told.

• And here we go…with the FIRST PICK in the 2011 NBA Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers select Kyrie Irving. Kyrie takes the stage, shakes Stern’s hand and tucks his left hand into his pocket for the commemorative photo.

• Just realized comments were off. No wonder nobody was complaining in the comments section! They’re back on now, you guys.

• The Draft hats tonights are fitteds, which is a good look. Not as good a look are the front of the hats, which appear to be airbrushed.

• With the SECOND PICK, the L-Wolves select, RICKY RUBIO! Oh wait, no, the Wolves selected Derrick Williams from Arizona (dark suit, red tie, understated). Williams pointed up into the stands to a couple of people wearing ‘Zona gear.

• The Jazz are up next. I guess taking Jimmer here would be a reach, but man that would be awesome if they took Jimmer here.

• With the THIRD PICK, the Utah Jazz select…Enes Kanter! He didn’t play at Kentucky last year. Big dude.

• I couldn’t hear exactly what he said, but I think Stu Scott just said Kanter would like to be a WWE wrestler after his NBA career is over. Or maybe I just wanted to hear him say that.

• With the FOURTH PICK, the Cavs select Tristan Thompson, my favorite member of the Thompson Twins, eliciting a roar from the crowd in Jersey. First reach of the Draft?

• OK, the Raptors are on the clock. Brandon Knight? Bismack Biyombo? Ricky Rubio?

• With the FIFTH PICK, the Raptors select Jonas Valanciunas. Not sure how that’s gonna fit on a jersey. He’s wearing an aggressively tailored suit, so he’s got that going for him.

• Lithuania in the house! Lots of people with Lithuania flags in the crowd.

• With the SIXTH PICK, the Wiz take Jan Vesely, who stands and receives a kiss from his girl, which brings down the house. Vesely was awesome in The Social Network, by the way.

• SEVENTH is the Kings, picking for the BETcats. And the pick is…Bismack Biyombo! He looks genuinely thrilled, hugging everyone at his table and threatening to snap everyone in half. His hands look like meat hooks. His nickname has to be Bismack-E, right?

• Nobody beats the Bis!

• Shot of Jimmer in the green room gets a huge cheer here in the arena.

• OK, the Pistons with the EIGHTH PICK, select Brandon Knight from Kentucky. I don’t really have anything to say here.

• The BETcats are up next with the 9th pick…and they select Kemba Walker, which gets a huge cheer here in the arena. He’s wearing a suit that matches his BETcats hat. He’s also rocking some saddle shoes that are beige with pink accents.

• The Kings are up next with the TENTH pick…and they select JIMMER!! Crowd erupts. I’m not really sure how he fits there, but it’s always a good idea to take a guy named Jimmer if there’s a guy named Jimmer available. Between Jimmer, Salmons and Tyreke, the Kings have a lot of high-volume scorers on their roster.

• Here come the Warriors, and they’re going for…Klay Thompson, from Washington State. Arena PA system breaks into “Life is a Highway.” Yes, yes it is. Hands down, man down, Klay.

• With the TWELFTH PICK, the Jazz make sweet music by taking…Alec Burks, from Colorado. A big Jazz contingent in the stands erupts. Didn’t see that coming. (The Jazz contingent, that is.)

• The THIRTEENTH PICK is by the Suns, unless they sell it. Nope, they use it and take Markieff Morris from Kansas. There’s another dude over the green room who looks EXACTLY like him. Crazy.

• I know, the Morris brothers are twins. Maybe we should call one Morris the Lesser and the other Morris the Greater?

• The Rockets are on the clock! With the FOURTEENTH PICK, the Rockets take Marcus Morris, because he’s a better player if you examine his analytics or something.

• With the FIFTEENTH PICK, the Pacers select Jimmy Chitwood! No, Kawhi Leonard! He’s winning the suit game, BTW.

• Halfway through round one. I just ran to the restroom and then around to grab a bottle of water from the press room, and I crossed paths with an ebullient Derrick Coleman. Once a Net, always a Net.

• Word is apparently tweeting out that the Pacers picked Leonard for the Spurs, and will trade him for George Hill. Like that for Spurs, not so much for Pacers.

• With the SIXTEENTH PICK, the Sixers take Nikola Vucevic, a two-time rebounding leader at USC. I’d probably know about that if I watched more than 15 college games a year.

• The Knicks are on the clock with the SEVENTEENTH PICK, and the place is getting a little rowdy.Stern takes a extra-long walk to the podium, and announces that the Knicks select…Iman Shumpert from Georgia Tech…and boos erupt.

• With the EIGHTEENTH PICK, the Wizards select Chris Singleton from FSU. He’s the last guy remaning in the green room…seems to have a little Turiaf swag going with his goatee.

• With the NINETEENTH PICK, the BETcats pick for the Bucks, and select Tobias Harris from Tennessee.

• OK, we’re at 20, and the green room is still full of family and friends, because we’re in Jersey and you can’t just walk out the door and hit the clubs.

• At 20, the L-Wolves select Donantas Motiejunas from Lithuania. OK! First round is two-thirds finished, with some cool teams still on the clock.

• Attendance tonight is 8,417, which is listed as a sellout.

• In the stands to my left are a group of fans with signs that read TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS HEART KENNETH FARIED. Too bad they’re not NBA GMs!

• With the TWENTY-FIRST PICK, the Trailblazers select Nolan Smith from Duke. Really? Huh.

• Woj just tweeted that the Rockets and Wolves have agreed to trade Jonny Flynn and Donatas Montiejunas to Houston for Brad Miller, the 23rd pick and a future first rounder. Another former SLAM Diary keeper on the move!

• With the TWENTY-SECOND PICK, the Nuggets will prolly take the guy with the most tattoos left on the board. Instead they take Kenneth Faried, from Newark.

• Sounds like Faried and Nolan Smith might be swapping places as part of a Ray Felton/Andre Miller trade, according to reports on Twitter. We’ll see if that pans out.

• Although it seems odd that George Karl would trade a UNC guy for a Duke guy.

• With the TWENTY-THIRD pick, the Rockets select Nikola Mirotic, from Montenegro…and he’d be part of the deal to go to the L-Wolves. Though it sounds like he can’t come to the NBA for four more years, anyway, so of course Minnesota went after him.

• Although Woj just tweeted that the L-Wolves are flipping that pick to the Bulls for the 28th, 43rd and a gift certificate to Best Buy.

• The Thunder roll in with the TWENTY-FOURTH pick, and select Reggie Jackson from Boston College.

• Now the Celts are on the clock at TWENTY-FIVE. When the Celtics logos flash up on the screens, boos break out in the arena. Stern strolls out and announces that the Celts select Marshon Brooks from Providence. Someone in the stands has a sign that says MARSHON BROOKS IS THE NEXT KOBE. Woj tweets that Brooks is going to Jersey in a trade.

• With the TWENTY-SIXTH pick, the Dallas Mavericks select Jordan Hamilton from Texas and stay in state.

• With the TWENTY-SEVENTH pick, the Nets will pick for the Celts, and they’re taking…JaJuan Johnson from Purdue.

• Also, Marc Stein tweets “Mavs are trading No. 26 to Portland to acquire Rudy Fernandez, with Portland moving the pick on to Denver in the Miller/Felton deal.” So that means Jordan Hamilton is a Nugget. Rudy as a Mav is kinda fresh.

• At TWENTY-EIGHT, the Bulls draft for the L-Wolves. and they select…Norris Cole from Cleveland State. This is one of the few college guys I’ve heard of because I heard he was kinda dope.

• We’re almost through this third hour of Round One! At TWENTY-NINE, the Spurs (I think) select Cory Joseph from Texas. Jay Bilas says it’s a bit of a surprise. You question the Spurs’ drafting at your own risk, buddy.

• And with the THIRTIETH PICK of the first round, the Bulls select Jimmy Butler from Marquette. Great guy, great story.

That’s it for the live blog. Thanks for chilling with us, and keep rocking in the comments. I’m out…

The post NBA Draft 2011 Live Blog appeared first on SLAM.

by Tzvi Twersky | @ttwersky

Yesterday, Wednesday, June 22, the NBA hosted a media availability session with some of the players invited to attend the 2011 Draft. So while hordes of quote-hungry reporters circled, the potential lottery picks answered, deflected and ignored the questions hurled at them.

SLAM, of course, was present for the entire hour-long session—flip camera in tow. The video above is a collection of some of our favorite, Q’s, A’s and one-liners.

Just in case some of you are at work and can’t view the video, or if you’re just more of a reader than listener, below are a few of the funniest-slash-juiciest bits. And if you want to see complete, unedited interviews from yesterday (and much more), be sure to check SLAM’s YouTube channel.

Jimmer Fredette

On who he models his game after: “I watch Deron Williams a lot… and I think if I can be as good as a player as he is in the NBA, I’ll be OK.”

Brandon Knight

On biggest strength as a combo guard: “I’m not a combo guard. I’m a point guard.”

On if people have pegged him as a combo guard: “Nah, she (the reporter) was the first one (laughs).”

On what NBA player he models his game after: “I don’t really say that about any NBA player, to be honest with you. I look at a lot of guys and I admire what they do, but to be like, ‘I want to be exactly like him?’ I never really do that.”

Enes Kanter

On potentially playing in Washington, DC: “I would love to play in DC. It’s international city, and Obama loves basketball.”

Alec Burks

Top 3 favorite moves (mistook “moves” for “movies”): “House Party, House Party 3 and I like The Players Club a lot.”

On being underrated: “I like being underrated. It got me to sitting here at this table today. So I don’t got no problem being underrated.”

Kyrie Irving

On this being a weak Draft: “This Draft is really special, regardless of what people say.”

Tristan Thompson

On comfort level guarding centers: “I definitely feel comfortable. I’m a basketball player—I’ll guard anyone. Coach wants me to guard the point guard, coach wants me to guard Rondo, I’ll guard Rondo. It might be difficult, but I’ll guard him (laughs). I’ll try my best.”

On who he wants to dunk on next year: “If I say his name, he’s going to be looking out for me… I might want to dunk on Kyrie (smiles).”

Kawhi Leonard

On who he liked watching play as a kid: “Growing up I liked Iverson, Kobe, Tracy McGrady was good around that time, Steve Francis, Kevin Garnett. I used to watch all them.”

The post Video: Getting to Know the 2011 Draft Class appeared first on SLAM.

It’s that time of the year—NBA Draft sites are in full blossom and rumors about picks and trades are flying around like mosquitoes near the beach. Instead of trying to predict where these players are going to end up getting drafted, I’m focusing on making one bold prediction about 30 of them. Of course, these are educated guesses based on looking at their statistics, reading about, and watching each of these players development to the best of my ability.

As we get underway with these, here’s one prediction that isn’t so bold: Some of these will be wrong.

Kyrie Irving | 6-3 | PG | Freshman | Duke

As DraftExpress.com recently showed, Irving got to the line an NCAA best 8.9 attempts per game during his injury-plagued freshman season. With the combination of being shifty/having amazing body control/being quick and fast in the open court, Kyrie should thrive in an up-tempo system in much the same way he did during his freshman year at Duke, where he read the D and reacted. Expect Irving to rival Derrick Rose (8.4), Russell Westbrook (8.4), and Chris Paul in attempts taken at the charity stripe in the next few seasons.

Derrick Williams | 6-8, F | Sophomore | Arizona

Williams will be an All-Star candidate by his second season in the League. Thought to be a “tweener” by some, there simply aren’t many players with his footwork in the lane, athleticism, and capability to play the pick-and-pop game on the perimeter (57 percent from the college three). And Williams has progressed in every area since he entered college and was the most efficient player in the nation as a sophomore.

Enes Kanter | 6-10 | PF/C | Freshman | Kentucky

Kanter will muscle his way into the top 10 in the NBA in the rebounding department within his first few years of “eligibility” in the United States. Andrew Bynum was 10th in the L in boards this year at 9.6 per contest and by all accounts, Kanter is an animal on the glass.

Brandon Knight | 6-4 | PG | Freshman | Kentucky

Knight will be reliant on his jump shot from the get-go and with the faster pace, stronger bodies, and quicker defenders than at the college level, I believe he will struggle as a result. Nearly half of Knight’s 513 FG attempts at Kentucky were three-pointers and he shot 37 percent. In this writer’s opinion, Knight will have to make major adjustments to his game to have success in the NBA.

Kemba Walker | 6-1 | PG | Junior | Connecticut

After hearing about how Kemba Walker led his NY Gauchos AAU team to four straight AAU tournament titles as a rising junior in high school, to explaining to people about how much heart he played with as a freshman and sophomore, to his National Championship junior year, Kemba Walker has handled himself as a winner thus far. So with these things in mind, I am making the bold prediction that K-Walk will be part of an NBA Championship team at some point in his career. Odds stacked against him? Bring it on.

Chris Singleton | 6-9, SF/PF | Junior | Florida State

One of the best defenders in college basketball and an athletic specimen, don’t be surprised to see Singleton make an All-NBA Defensive team (at least one) at some point in his career. If he can make the mental transition to the next level, along with his athleticism and feel at the defensive end, he will be counted on to effectively guard top-tier wing talent at the next level.

Kawhi Leonard | 6-7 | SF | Sophomore | San Diego State

Pound-for-pound, one of the best rebounders in college basketball last season, Leonard has the mitts (4XL hands), length and instincts to be a problem at the NBA level. During his sophomore year he averaged 3 offensive boards per game—I expect him to average 2+ per game for his entire career.

Jimmer Fredette | 6-2 | PG | Senior | BYU

On his way to becoming a college basketball legend, Jimmer Fredette has defied the odds at almost every turn. Now as he’s about to be drafted, he’s being doubted some more, and that’s perfectly normal for a somewhat athletically challenged 6-2 guard—who relies on his shooting prowess—to go through. But there aren’t many better shooters (even in the NBA), and I suspect Fredette will make his mark. Shouldering the load at BYU, Fredette shot, on average, 3.4-8.5 (39.6 percent) from distance. With less attempts at the next level and a higher concentration on each shot, I think the Jimmer has an opportunity to increase his percentage to 45 percent in his first season.

Jordan Hamilton | 6-9 | 230 | SG/SF | Sophomore | Texas

Jordan Hamilton will suffer from Paul Pierce syndrome—the now celebrated Celtic became enraged after nine teams passed him up, and we all know how that worked out. Hamilton will probably hop off the board and on to the stage at the Prudential Center in the teens or early 20s and will be doing his best Truth imitation for the rest of his career as a result of his dropoff. Hamilton is a skilled wing who could blossom with the spacing of the NBA combined with his sweet jumper and slashing ability.

Justin Harper | 6-9 | PF | Senior | Richmond

Harper was one of, if not the, premier range-shooting forward in the NCAA’s this past season. He has an effortless stroke which is why he attempted 4.6 threes per game and knocked home 45 percent of them. With NBA-range well within his grasp, I expect Harper to be the new-age Channing Frye, except with more muscle. I think that Harper, not Klay Thompson, will end up being the best shooter in this draft. Bold, but that’s what this is about—and I believe in him.

Jan Vesely | 6-11 | SF/PF | KK Partizan Belgrade

Is he the next coming of Omri Casspi? I watched him once when I was in Barcelona last year and he definitely has the potential to be a better player; he’s more athletic, is a better shooter, and has a great feel for the game. There will be many keys for Vesely, but none bigger than being on a team that allows him to run the floor, make hustle plays , and to work on the other aspects of his game as he gains experience and confidence. The bold prediction here? Vesely will remind many of Casspi, but how about a combination between he and a (taller) Shawn Marion (with a smoother jumper)?

Alec Burks | 6-6 | SG | Sophomore | Colorado

Versatile, smooth/quick with the ball, and a deadly finisher in the paint. In the isolation game of the NBA, Burks could be a solid pick from the beginning. What can’t Burks do (yet)? Shoot the ball with range. Once in the NBA, his shooting mechanics (which aren’t terrible, just need refining) will improve from the 29 percent he shot from distance in college. The 82 percent he shot from the line this season is reason to believe.

The post 30 Bold Predictions appeared first on SLAM.

Originally published in SLAM 150

by Rodger Bohn / @rodgerbohn

Two NBA GMs walk into the Joe Craft Center in Lexington early one March morning to see arguably the SEC’s top NBA Draft prospect work out. University of Kentucky freshman phenoms Brandon Knight and Terrence Jones [see sidebar] just put on a show in a thriller over Vanderbilt the night before, and while both are likely Lottery picks, the NBA brass isn’t here to see them. They’re here to evaluate a foreign-born freshman who didn’t play a minute against Vanderbilt, a player who didn’t even suit up once this past season after the NCAA declared him ineligible last September. They’re here in Big Blue Nation to see 6-11, 265-pound Turkish import Enes Kanter.

On this morning, with UK assistant and former first-round pick Kenny Payne leading the 18-year-old Kanter (he’ll be 19 when you read this) through an assortment of one-on-none drills, it’s easy to see where, despite not having played organized ball in almost a year, the hype comes from. Boasting a body like Blake Griffin’s and incredibly long arms, Kanter’s more in the mold of a center than a power forward at this point. Completely comfortable swooshing effortless jump hooks with either hand, in glimpses—when he effortlessly cashes 18-footers after annihilating a UK manager repeatedly on a simulated screen—it’s evident how good Kanter can eventually become as a pick-and-roll player. Though Kentucky head coach John Calipari wasn’t in the gym for the workout, he boasts later, “If you’re using him in the pick and roll, I don’t know how you can get by the screen. When he screens you, you’re getting hit and then he can step out and shoot it. He’s as good as they get.”

Kanter continues his workout by shooting NBA threes Channing Frye-style off of simulated pick and rolls, albeit with mixed results. The man adored by UK fans and nicknamed “The UnderKanter” acknowledges the so-so long-ball showing, saying he “has the potential to be a good three-point shooter with work.” Due to the nature of the workout, Kanter’s best skill, his rebounding, can’t be shown, but one GM states, “If there’s one thing that we know this kid can do, it’s rebound the hell out of the ball.”

After the grueling workout wraps, Enes raps with those present about how he feels about never being able to play for Kentucky, yet how much the fans still adore and support him. The entire time he speaks he wears an almost eerie grin on his face. Asked why he’s still so upbeat about everything, Kanter responds, “My life hasn’t even started yet. If I give up now, I will not make it. If I want to be a franchise player, I have to keep working hard, smiling and stay positive. They made me ineligible, but it’s not the end of the world. I have to show people that I’m not a bad guy, I’m a good guy. I have to show Fenerbahce, American people and Kentucky’s fans.”

—

Enes Kanter’s journey to Kentucky, to ineligibility and eventually, to being on the cusp of the NBA, began in his early teens, began in earnest when he dominated the ’08 Jordan Brand Classic International Game (22 points, 17 rebounds) and the U-18 European Championships (14.6 rpg). After those showings, despite being two years younger than the youngest of the comp, his team Fenerbahce Ulker, the top team in Turkey, bumped the adolescent up to the club’s senior team.

“I really felt special,” Kanter says about playing at such a high level at such a young age. “It was so weird at first because I was guarding players who I was the same age as their sons. But after a few minutes on the court, I knew I had to prove myself.”

After losing to heated rival Efes Pilsen in the Turkish Basketball League finals, a then 17-year-old Kanter killed it at the European U-18 Championships yet again and was named MVP. Making the decision that Enes was ready to come over and do his thing in the States, his family informed Fenerbahce that their son would not be returning to their club and began searching for a place for Enes to spend his senior year of high school. After brief stops at both Findlay Prep (NV) and Mountain State (WV), Kanter settled in at Stoneridge Prep in Simi Valley, CA—not exactly a hoops powerhouse.

Still a relatively unknown commodity, Kanter became a bit of a legend on recruiting message boards, as tales of the big Turk averaging 50 and 25 in one tourney in
Vegas gained steam (we spoke to two opposing coaches from the tourney; it happened). Over the course of a few winter months, the talented Turk would commit and then un-commit to the University of Washington. At that point, sometime in February, Kanter wasn’t sure where he wanted to go to college. Then, after watching five minutes of a Kentucky-Tennessee game, he knew exactly what school he wanted to attend.

“After I saw that game, I knew that this was the place for me. Coach Cal gives you the freedom to play your game, and that’s why I came here,” Kanter says.

Coach Cal has a different story, though. “I got a call from his coach saying that [Kanter] was interested in us, and I didn’t know who he was,” Cal recalls. “I went out to watch them practice at an L.A. Fitness (Stoneridge didn’t have its own gym) and was like, Wow!”

Despite having played pro ball in Turkey a year prior to his commitment to UK, Kanter’s father, Mehmet, had taken steps he thought were necessary—he insisted on no contract ever being signed—to maintain his son’s amateur status. The NCAA disagreed.

On September 7, 2010, months after Kanter spurned the Turkish national team to attend summer school in Lexington, Fenerbahce GM Nedim Karakas told the New York Times that the young center had received benefits in excess of what the NCAA allows while playing for Fenerbahce. A brief scuffle between the Kanters and the NCAA ensued, but ultimately Enes was stripped of his amateur status and deemed ineligible to play for the Wildcats.

Coach Cal is still sore about how all the events transpired. “Enes comes from a family where the father did everything he was supposed to do to make sure that this young man could play, and the NCAA made its decision early on that this kid was never going to play,” Calipari says. “We jumped through all kinds of hoops, but the NCAA had its mind set that Enes was never going to play.”

—

Since the conclusion of UK’s season—despite being ineligible, Kanter stayed at UK, supporting teammates he never got the chance to suit up with through their Final Four run in the NCAA Tournament—Enes has been spending his time in Chicago, working out at Attack Athletics with famed trainer Tim Grover.

With Grover saying that Kanter “is definitely ready to go pro” and “will be able to play right away, both from a physical and skill standpoint,” Kanter aspires to land in the top five of the 2011 Draft, with dream destinations of Washington and New Jersey.

While college didn’t work out for Kanter the way he would have liked, Coach Calipari ultimately thinks everything will fall into place for the pro-bound center.

“This is going to work out for this kid,” Cal says. “The only people that were cheated were our fans in the United States and the fans in Turkey who would’ve loved to see him play. He’s still going to be part of our family, he’s still going to practice where pro scouts can see him, and he’s still going to go where he should have in the Draft. At the end of the day, this all played out perfectly.”

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Despite the initial general assumption that Kyrie Irving was Cleveland-bound, the Cavs have yet to decide who they’ll select as the top overall pick, but Enes Kanter seems to have moved up their draft board quite a bit. From the Plain Dealer: “Turkish center Enes Kanter told reporters in Minnesota that he was returning to Cleveland for a second workout on Monday, and his agent told reporters Kanter was scheduled to meet Cavs owner Dan Gilbert. Agent Max Ergul also told Minnesota reporters Kanter was not ‘auditioning’ for the No. 4 pick, clearly indicating he thought his client could be taken with the No. 1 pick. Kanter worked out in Cleveland last Tuesday and worked out in Minnesota today. Derrick Williams also was scheduled to work out for the Wolves [Thursday.]”

The post Cavs Thinking of Making Enes Kanter Top Draft Pick? appeared first on SLAM.

Big man Enes Kanter may be the personification of a Draft full of uncertainty and enigma. He’s looked incredibly dominant in small glimpses, but sitting out last season at Kentucky makes Kanter tough to evaluate. One thing is known—Kanter can ball.

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