Enes Kanter, a centre for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association, is a Turkish-born professional basketball player (NBA). He played for a number of clubs over the course of almost a decade in the NBA, including the Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Portland Trail Blazers.
His influence, however, goes beyond the courtroom as he is renowned for his activism and support for social and political causes both in his native country and abroad.
Early Life and Career
Enes Kanter was born to Turkish parents on May 20, 1992, in Zurich, Switzerland. He was born and raised in Turkey, where he started out as a young basketball player. In 2008, he made his professional basketball debut for the Turkish team Fenerbahçe Ülker.
He immediately gained notoriety and established himself as one of Europe’s top young athletes, taking home numerous honors and helping his team win a number of competitions.
Enes Kanter NBA Career
The Utah Jazz selected Kanter with the third overall choice in the 2011 NBA Draft. He played for the Jazz for three and a half seasons, when he made a name for himself as the league’s best rebounder and scorer.
The following year, in 2015, he was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he played with legends Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
Kanter was dealt to the New York Knicks in 2017, where he put up great numbers after arriving. After that, in 2019, he was moved to the Portland Trail Blazers, where he was crucial to the team’s playoff run. He joined the Boston Celtics in 2020 and has since been a significant player for the group.
Enes Kanter Net Worth
In 2023, Enes Kanter’s estimated net worth is $55 million. Most of his money came from his NBA career. The general public is still unaware of his true net worth and career earnings, nevertheless. He agreed to a two-year, $9.7 million contract with the Boston Celtics in 2020, increasing his entire income.
He additionally earns money through endorsing, endorsing, and promoting brands. With the Portland Trail Blazers, he signed a one-year, $653,556 contract that had a $653,556 guaranteed minimum salary.
He received a base salary of $653,556, a cap hit of $487,109, and a dead cap value of $487,109. The player has earned $94,174,431 in total, as reported by the NBA, over the course of eight seasons. Enes’ endorsement contracts, which have contributed to his international success and rise to popularity, increase his net worth.
Nike, one of his sponsors, unveiled a special sneaker for him in 2017. Kanter has also appeared in commercials for other companies, including Pepsi and Tissot.
His Activism and Advocacy
President Tayyip Erdogan and the Turkish administration have come under fire from Critics for allegedly breaching human rights and stifling dissenting voices. Due of his outspokenness, Kanter has personally experienced government intimidation and threats.
After the Turkish government revoked his passport in 2017, he was detained in Romania and was stranded there for several hours before being able to travel back to the United States.
Despite the dangers, Kanter has persisted in criticising the Turkish government and has emerged as a well-known activist for a number of causes, such as free speech, democracy, and human rights.
He has used his platform as an NBA player to bring attention to these concerns, and numerous groups have honoured him for his work.
Kanter is also known for his philanthropic efforts in addition to his activism. He founded the Enes Kanter Foundation, which aims to give disadvantaged kids in Turkey and all across the world access to school and other possibilities.
Along with these charitable activities, he has contributed cash and resources to relief efforts for natural disasters. Enes Kanter’s wealth and income largely reflect his prowess as a basketball player and his dedication to leaving a lasting impression off the court.
