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Enes Kanter Freedom is banned from Chicago Sky games at Wintrust Arena.
In a rare interview with Chicago-based media members, Chicago Sky owner Michael Alter denounced the actions of former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom, who attended Sunday’s game at Wintrust Arena between the Sky and Indiana Fever.
“It was pretty clear to us that his purpose of coming here was trying to be provocative and just see how much attention he could get,” Alter told reporters.
Freedom was removed from the third quarter of Sunday’s game after an altercation with Sky guard Natasha Cloud. Weeks before Sunday’s game, Freedom, an 11-year NBA veteran who last played in 2022, declared for the 2027 WNBA draft, claiming he identifies as a woman.
Alter said Freedom is not allowed back into Wintrust Arena “unless sometime in the future, he’s able to prove to us that he’s able to abide by our rules without being a potential threat.” A Sky spokesperson confirmed Freedom is banned indefinitely from the team’s home games.
A league source with knowledge of the situation told Front Office Sports that the WNBA does not intend to impose a league-wide ban on Freedom.
“He Made Himself Into a Threat”
Alter said multiple people seated close to Freedom told him the former NBA player started talking to Cloud during the game.
“I’ve had both of these people, separately, confirm that the dialogue, the engagement, whatever you want or however you want to characterize it, between Cloud and Freedom Kanter, started with Kanter.” (One fan, Trista Smith, told reporters after the game, including FOS, that Freedom did not say anything to initiate the altercation.)
Alter said he was told Freedom began to chirp at Cloud some time in the third quarter.
“I would characterize it as trash talking, nothing personal, basketball-related, but enough to get her attention and to engage her, and, in my opinion, try to provoke her,” Alter said.
After Cloud made a layup in the third quarter, she began to say something toward Freedom, who proceeded to stand up, raise his arms, and step forward. Freedom was immediately restrained by security and escorted out.
Freedom did not pass the baseline, but Alter said he had “turned himself into a threat” by standing up and approaching a player.
Alter said arena security, NBA security, Chicago Sky security, Indiana Fever security, and the Chicago Police Department all agreed that Freedom’s actions were worth removing him from the arena.
“The security people’s job is not to wait until a threat intensifies. … We had five different security authorities all agree very quickly that there was no alternative but to throw him out because he made himself into a threat,” Alter said.
No Relationship
Alter also rejected Freedom’s claim that the team welcomed him. Freedom said Monday on Fox News that he texted Sky GM Jeff Pagliocca before the game to inform him he would come. Freedom claimed Pagliocca told him to “just enjoy the game.”
Freedom was once a client of Pagliocca, a former basketball trainer. But Alter said their partnership ended in “2018 or 2019” and that the two have not spoken in years.
On Tuesday, Alter read the text exchange between Hank Fetic, Freedom’s manager, and Pagliocca.
“I got a new number. You’ve always been fair to me so I figured you deserved a heads up in advance. Enes and I will be at the Sky game tonight. Hope you are all well,” Fetic’s text read, according to Alter. It was around 2:30 p.m. CT when the Sky first heard Freedom was coming to the game at 6 p.m. CT.
Pagliocca’s response about an hour later was “appreciate the text.”
Alter said that by Freedom’s manager needing to provide a heads-up about their presence, it suggested they weren’t just coming to be regular fans: “There wouldn’t need to be a heads-up for that.”
A Sky spokesperson reiterated Pagliocca did not invite nor speak to Freedom during or after the game. “It goes without saying that Jeff does not endorse Enes Kanter,” the spokesperson said.
Freedom did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Sky owner said they were not aware where Freedom would be seated until he arrived at the game. An unidentified third party purchased the ticket and gave it to Freedom, and the team allowed Freedom to attend the game as a fan.
“We don’t censor people or prevent people from coming based upon anything other than their conduct. … He’s got the right to be here as long as he behaves, and we’ll keep an eye on to make sure that’s what’s going on,” Alter said.
He added his “one regret” was not informing the players before the game that Freedom was expected to arrive.
“I felt that it was too close to tip-off time, and that I just didn’t want it to become a distraction. … I don’t know that anything would have changed, but that’s my one regret,” Alter said.
Cloud has yet to speak to reporters about the incident. A Sky spokesperson said Sunday that she spoke to team and league security after the game.
She has posted on Threads over the last two days, including one Tuesday:
“Your beliefs shouldn’t affect [others’] lives. You don’t have to agree or live your life like that. But you can stfu & mind your business, home, beds, and bodies.”
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