Make no mistake: this star player is ready to suit up for the Turkish national basketball team. Though recent injuries kept him from doing so, he is now excited and ready to do this particular task.
Kanter, who has largely remained silent in the face of criticism and rumors with regards to his failure to play for the Turkish national team, said on the issue: "I have remained mostly quiet in the fact of unnecessary rhetoric on this topic. Believe me, sometimes it's difficult to even believe some of the things people say. In the past two years, all sorts of unmentionable things have been said about me with regards to the Turkish national team. There is no point in repeating them here; especially since I've mentioned them in previous interviews.”
“But I will say just this: I love my people, our national team and our flag a thousand times more than those who criticize me so improperly on this topic. In fact, every moment in the NBA is spent thinking about how I can get people here to love the values, country and flag that I represent more.”
“What's more, no one should think, ‘Ah, that Enes Kanter, he's just pursuing fame and fortune, not even one part of his mind is on Turkey these days.' In one sense they are right as Turkey does not lie in just one corner of my mind but right in the middle of my heart. I want everyone out there to know that I am doing my best to see that our flag becomes one which is respected no matter where you go in the world,” he said.
“Maybe this was a very long answer, but the topic really bothers me, which is why I wanted to express this all one more time. Let all the basketball lovers reading this know that this year and in future years when I am playing, I will definitely be suiting up in our national team uniform. With pride.”