Celtics' Enes Kanter rips Turkish president amid unconfirmed death reports

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Among the things for Boston Celtics fans to know about new big man Enes Kanter: He's a staunch critic of Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Kanter, a Turkey native, has accused Erdogan of running a totalitarian regime that suppresses basic freedoms and human rights and once called the president "the Hitler of our century."

So, when unconfirmed reports surfaced Monday that Erdogan had died of a heart attack, Kanter used the opportunity to deliver another scathing remark.

The Turkish government still hadn't addressed those rumors as of Tuesday morning, so Erdogan's death has neither been confirmed nor denied.

Erdogan, who has been Turkey's president since 2014, has reciprocated Kanter's animosity in the past, revoking his passport back in 2017 and sending out a warrant for the NBA veteran's arrest while accusing him of being part of a terrorist organization.

Kanter is free to speak his mind in the U.S., though -- and has the support of Mass. Senator Ed Markey -- so whatever happens with Erdogan over the next few days, chances are the Celtics forward will have something to say about it.

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