Enes Kanter receiving death threats after failed coup in Turkey

Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter has been posting screenshots of death threats he has received on Twitter.

The country of Turkey remains in turmoil after a failed coup attempt by a faction of the military last week. Americans are able to watch the news reports and try to relate, but it hits much closer to home for those actually from the country.

Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter is Turkish and has been sharing his opinions about the coup attempt. His opinions tend to go against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, causing some outrage among those still loyal to the president.

Kanter has been sharing death threats he has received on Twitter, but most of his tweets are in Turkish. The Twitter translation function tries its best, but is unable to decipher everything he posts, for those of us who don’t speak Turkish.

Some of his tweets are translated enough to show lists of death threats he is receiving.

Kanter’s support of Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish man living in the U.S. who Erdogan accuses of influencing the coup, seems to be the main cause of the threats. Kanter has shared several stories proclaiming Gulen’s innocence to the claims of Erdogan, but it is understandably a sensitive time for Turkish citizens who may believe whatever the president says after the coup attempt.

Kanter was left off Turkish national team in 2015 and cited his support of Gulen as the reason for not being chosen.

The coach stated otherwise, but it is clear Kanter may not ever be able to return to his home country after the failed coup attempt. At least until everything simmers down, which may take several years.

In the U.S., Kanter is part of a Thunder team still reeling after the loss of Kevin Durant. Russell Westbrook may be able to will this team to the playoffs, but the team’s best shot at a championship slipped away after blowing a 3-1 lead in this year’s Western Conference Finals.

For more NBA coverage, check out our hub page.