Enes Kanter Support for Tibetan Independence Causes China Blowback for Celtics

The Boston Celtics have had all their games pulled off the internet in China after Center, and outspoken human rights activist Enes Kanter posted a video voicing his support for Tibetan independence.

Kanter posted the Video on Wednesday. Hours later the Chinese video-streaming giant Tencent cut the live broadcast of the season opener between the Celtics and New York Knicks.

Dear Brutal Dictator XI JINPING and the Chinese Government

Tibet belongs to the Tibetan people!#FreeTibet pic.twitter.com/To4qWMXK56

— Enes Kanter (@EnesKanter) October 20, 2021

This is not the first time the NBA has faced Chinese blowback over comments made about the countries human rights record. In 2019, Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey voiced support for Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters. The fallout was swift and severe.

Sponsors in the country cut ties and the state-run broadcaster stopped airing games. The financial fallout cost the NBA hundreds of millions of dollars.

The Celtics have yet to comment on the situation publicly. The team was supposed to hold practice followed by media availability on Thursday but practice was cancelled and no one from the team – at this point – is being publicly made available to the media.