Enes Kanter has accepted an apology from NBA Europe, but he didn’t sound too convincing.
Kanter was livid at an NBA Europe Instagram promotional poster showing the NBA’s three Turkish players but not himself and called out the league on Twitter as “u scared little rats.’’
Kanter figured he was omitted because of his critical stance on the Turkish government and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. “The Association is supposed to stand up for inclusion and human rights. Stop freaking scared of a #Dictator and do what is right,” Kanter tweeted.
The poster showed Turkey’s Cedi Osman (Cavaliers), Ersan Ilyasova (Bucks) and Furkan Korkmaz (Sixers). The NBA, after Kanter’s tweets, realized its error of omission.
Kanter received an apology from the league through the Knicks P.R. department. A new Instagram was posted with Kanter’s picture included. League sources said it was a factual error made by a company the NBA hired to promote its international players.
After the Knicks’ loss to the Wizards, Kanter sounded unsure if the original Instagram was an honest mistake.
“They put something out, forgot to put me and changed it later,’’ Kanter said. “They called and gave an apology. I’m going to be a bigger man and accept it. I felt disrespected, definitely.
“It’s Europe, man. Anything can happen,’’ Kanter added when asked if he had his doubts. “I’m the best Turkish player to ever play the game.’’
Next time the Knicks face the Wizards is in London on Jan. 17. Kanter said he is talking to diplomats to make sure his US green card will be honored, since his Turkish passport was revoked because of a conflict with his homeland.
“I don’t want to miss any games,’’ Kanter said.
Knicks point guard Trey Burke , who sprained his knee against Milwaukee on Saturday after landing badly following a layup, didn’t sound like he’d be ready until Saturday against the Nets at the earliest. That would mean he’d miss the Celtics game Thursday just two weeks after he starred in a Knicks upset in Boston. Burke, however, sounds fortunate he didn’t tear his ACL on the play.
“I’m not gonna count the next game out, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I am out,’’ Burke said. “The biggest thing is being able to cut. I know I can walk, I know I can run, at least jog, but am I capable of cutting at a high speed a certain amount of times? That’s the next step in my process. I don’t want to get into a timeline yet. It’s only been two days. But I’m excited where I’m at in the process.”
Bucks big man Thon Maker landed on Burke’s foot.
“He landed on my foot and my knee buckled in and it caused, they said it’s a Grade 1 sprain of my MCL,’’ Burke said. “Thank God, it could’ve been worse than that. I didn’t want to think the worst-case scenario.’’