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BOSTON — Boston Celtics center, Enes Kanter was sworn in as a US citizen Monday afternoon, deciding to change his legal name to “Enes Kanter Freedom” to celebrate his official US citizenship.
The 29-year-old NBA star is originally from Turkey before he moved to the US in 2009.
Kanter-Freedom has been an outspoken critic of the Turkish Government. He said his passport was taken away by his homeland in 2017.
I am proud to be an American.
— Enes Kanter FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) November 29, 2021
Greatest nation in the world.
The Land of the free, and home of the brave. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/8mbUX1dpWS
Kanter-Freedom told Boston 25 News how free he feels here compared to what he experienced in Turkey.
“America taught me so much, here people should be blessed. You have freedom of speech, freedom of the press and I want to carry that word with me everywhere I go,” said Kanter-Freedom.
He plans to wear his new jersey at the next game.
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