NBA's Enes Kanter Freedom explains why he became an American citizen

Boston Celtics center Enes Kanter Freedom says he became an American citizen because the country welcomed him in after he was targeted by his native Turkey's government and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Kanter Freedom, who added the second word of his last name last month in honor of his new citizenship, recounts in an op-ed in The Atlantic published Thursday how Erdoğan went after his family after he spoke out against government practices, forcing his parents to publicly disown him, blocking his siblings from possible employment and throwing his father in jail.

Kanter Freedom had his Turkish citizenship revoked and was issued an international arrest warrant.

"I was stranded. I had no family. I had no nationality. I had no home," Kanter Freedom wrote. "That's when America welcomed me with open arms."

Kanter Freedom wrote that America has given him "all the opportunities in the world," adding when he started the process of becoming a naturalized citizen, he realized life is bigger than basketball and he wanted to use his platform to be the "voice for the voiceless."

"For six long years, I was without a home. I know what it's like for a people to have their freedom stripped away. And I know what it's like to have my own freedom stripped away. But this week, I'm reclaiming my Freedom. I just became an American citizen, and I'm making America and its freedoms a part of my very identity," Kanter Freedom wrote.

"I'm overwhelmed with emotion just writing these words: I, Enes Kanter Freedom, am proud to be a citizen of the United States of America, the land of the free, and home of the brave," Kanter Freedom concluded.

Kanter Freedom has become a prominent critic of the Chinese government over the past few months. He recently called out LeBron James and Nike for their silence on China while profiting off sneakers made in the country.

He also said recently that Michael Jordan has done "nothing" for the Black community in the U.S.

Kanter Freedom called out former NBA player Jeremy Lin, a Taiwanese American, on Sunday for being silent on alleged human rights abuses in China.