Boston Celtics Games Banned In China After Political Controversy

BOSTON — Celtics games are no longer airing in China after a player expressed his support for the people of Tibet and denounced what he said was Chinese oppression overseas.

Boston center Enes Kanter released a two-minute video calling China's leader a "brutal dictator" before showing up to Wednesday night's season-opener with "Free Tibet" written on his shoes.

"I'm here to add my voice and speak out about what is happening in Tibet," Kanter said in the video. "Under the Chinese government's brutal rule, Tibetan people's basic rights and freedoms are nonexistent."

The controversy is not one the NBA or Celtics are likely to gloss over. The league has already bowed to China's economic power — it's the league's largest international market — in what amounted to an international incident two years ago.

In 2019, then-Houston Rockets executive Daryl Morey tweeted in support of pro-democracy protestors in Hong Kong. It was a tweet that cost the league untold millions of dollars after Chinese sponsors turned away and the country stopped broadcasting games. The league — including its players who are outspoken on many political issues in America — failed to support Morey.

The Philadelphia 76ers, now run by Morey, are still not shown on Chinese television. Now neither are the Celtics.

Kanter is an outspoken 7-footer who has been vocal about the president in his homeland of Turkey. The Turkish government has revoked his passport and issued arrest warrants for him.

Kanter did not play in Wednesday night's game at Madison Square Garden, though he's largely a backup center who doesn't always see the floor.