Kanter: “The FBI believes I can’t stay in a foreign country for more than five days, so I can’t come to Panathinaikos”

Enes Kanter gave an interview to OPEN and Elvi Michailidou on the occasion of his visit to Greece and explained why it was impossible to compete in the EuroLeague, emphasizing that Panathinaikos AKTOR would be his first choice if he had the chance.

For his visit to Greece: “A basketball camp brings me back here. It is a very important job because it brings together children from Greece and Turkey who play basketball, have fun and focus on learning and communicating with each other by playing mixed games so that they learn to win together.” . That is the point.”

On whether he misses basketball: “Of course I miss basketball. I love basketball, I love competing, I love having fun with my teammates. I love traveling with my team. But there are bigger things I’m dealing with right now.”

There are many problems in the world that I speak about publicly. So I know my heart misses basketball, but what I do is more important than the NBA. Everyone knows that I’m good enough to play in the NBA, everyone knows that I’m still young, that I stay in shape, that I still train… And that’s the only reason I don’t “I’m in the NBA because of what I say in public.”

On the question of whether he will go to Europe and play for Panathinaikos AKTOR: “I would like to play in Europe. I like the EuroLeague. I’m watching a lot of my friends who are currently playing in the EuroLeague. But after the Erdogan government declared it, I find it very difficult to stay in a country for a week.

I have discussed this at length with the FBI and they believe that I cannot stay in a foreign country for more than five days. That’s also the reason why I don’t think I’ll play basketball in Europe.

Panathinaikos fans are incredible, fantastic. Every day I get a message from a Greek or a friend of Panathinaikos who says: “What are you waiting for? Come to Greece and play for Panathinaikos.” I had such a discussion with the American authorities… Everyone knows which team I have in my heart. If there was a team I would come to play basketball in Europe, it would be Panathinaikos.”

His wishes for the Greeks before the holidays: “I would like to say Merry Christmas to all Greeks and especially to the friends of Panathinaikos, whom I carry in my heart. I wish you a wonderful new year. Stay safe and healthy and I hope to see you at one of my games.”