With the Portland Trail Blazers and Toronto Raptors each four wins away from a matchup in the NBA Finals, plans are being made to ensure Blazers starting center Enes Kanter can safely participate in all the games. Oregon Senator Ron Wyden wrote a letter Tuesday to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on behalf of Kanter encouraging “safe passage” for the Turkish center to Canada for all games. “I ask your government to facilitate Mr. Kanter’s safe passage to and from Canada should the Portland Trail Blazers play the Toronto Raptors in Toronto, Canada, in the upcoming NBA Finals,” the letter states. “I also urge your government to state publicly that it will not comply with any Interpol red notice meant to interfere with Mr. Kanter’s livelihood and to intimidate him and his family back in Turkey.”
Enes Kanter Rumors
All NBA Players
Position: C
Born: 05/20/92
Height: 6-11 / 2.11
Weight:261 lbs. / 118.8 kg.
Salary: $19,264,603
Born: 05/20/92
Height: 6-11 / 2.11
Weight:261 lbs. / 118.8 kg.
Salary: $19,264,603
The NBA playoffs have been swept up in diplomatic drama, with US senator Ron Wyden expressing concern for the safety of Portland Trail Blazers player Enes Kanter if his team play the Toronto Raptors in the NBA finals.
Wyden, a senator from Oregon, wrote to Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday, asking for “safe passage” for Kanter. “I ask your government to facilitate Mr Kanter’s safe passage to and from Canada should the Portland Trail Blazers play the Toronto Raptors in Toronto, Canada, in the upcoming NBA finals,” the letter reads. “I also urge your government to state publicly that it will not comply with any Interpol red notice meant to interfere with Mr Kanter’s livelihood and to intimidate him and his family back in Turkey.”
Outspoken Turkish basketball player Enes Kanter’s Portland Trail Blazers reached the NBA’s Western Conference finals starting on Tuesday, but for the first time the series will not be televised in Turkey where he is accused of having terrorist links. S Sport, the main TV broadcaster of National Basketball Association games in Turkey, will ignore the conference final between the Blazers and defending champion Golden State Warriors to keep Kanter off Turkish screens, said network commentator Omer Sarac.
The full NBA playoffs have been televised in Turkey since broadcasts began in the 1990s. “I can say clearly that we will not be broadcasting the Warriors-Blazers series,” Sarac told Reuters. “Furthermore, if Portland makes it to the finals, (that) will not be broadcast either … This situation is not about us, but it is what it is.”
Blazers advance to the Western Conference Finals
Joe Freeman: Final: Blazers 100, Nuggets 96 to advance to Western Conference Finals. McCollum had 37 points, 9 rebounds, Kanter 12 points, 13 rebounds, Lillard 13 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, Turner 14 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists.
Enes Kanter: Can you please help me share this message for my mom ? Thanks a lot 🙏 I LOVE YOU MOM ❤️Stay strong. #HappyMothersDay 😔 pic.twitter.com/rAL7zjs3UR
