Enes Kanter Freedom Declares Attack on Alesha Player Despite Being Spectator
CHICAGO, IL — In what has been described as a bizarre situation by everyone in attendance, former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom was escorted by security out of a local game store after reportedly attempting to start and altercation with one of the players. Witnesses say the disturbance happened during a weekly commander pod at Sparky’s Hangout in Greektown, when one of the players introduced Alesha as her commander.
“I just got the Commander in earlier this week. I had it altered to add a trans flag to the background, and posted about it online,” player Rebecca Homan tells the Commander’s Herald. “I didn’t think anything too different about it at the time. I usually post my altered commanders as I get them in, and they never draw any complaints. But after I posted the Alesha, I started getting a lot of rude comments from the usual online TERFs. I just didn’t think someone would escalate the situation.”
Unlike most critics, Alesha at least knows the names of tonight’s starting line-up
Things got worse when she went to Sparky’s Hangout for her usual Sunday commander pod. “It was mostly the regulars, but also this tall Turkish guy I never seen before was staring us down from the corner of the shop.” The man, identified as former NBA journeyman and bar trivia answer Enes Kanter Freedom, was reportedly in town to attend a WNBA game between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever, and told owners he was at the shop to “see what the local Commander scene looked like.” “We should have been more suspicious when we saw him wear a shirt with the definition of ‘Commander’ as written in Comp Rule 903.3 in big red letters,” shop owner Shane McGuillicutty tells us.
Things turned sour during the second game of the pod, when Homan cast her commander. Store security footage released on social media shows Kanter Freedom begin a verbal altercation with Homan, which bystanders say was centered on Rebecca’s choice of Commander. “He kept referring to Alesha as a man, and saying that if just any man can be a commander, why can’t his 2011 Panini Rookie Card. The whole thing still kinda freaks me out.” McGuillicutty was quick to intervene, and footage shows several members of the store’s staff escorting Kanter Freedom off the premises. “It’s safe to say he’s banned from the shop,” McGuillicutty confirms.
Born Enes Kanter, the career center whose only championship was a 23 second run with a gimmick pro wrestling title took on the surname “Freedom” after receiving citizenship in the United States. Having initially come into notoriety for his vocal criticism of Turkish President Erdogan, Kanter Freedom owes a lot of his beliefs to the Hizmet Movement founded by Fethullah Gulen. The movement, whose values include preaching Love, Tolerance, Doing Good For Others, and Freedom of Expression. Gulen was unable to provide comment regarding Kanter Freedom’s actions, having died in October of 2024.
“What’s really odd about all this is, for a bunch of argument over the trans community, not a single actual trans person was involved,” Homan mused with our reporters. “Sure, Alesha is, but that’s just a card. I’m supportive and all, but I’m cis. So is Shane and everyone in the pod.” When we asked where the trans members of the community were, McGuillicutty told us they were all busy watching the Chicago Sky play later that evening.
