Celtics Enes Kanter Visits Stoughton Students

STOUGHTON, MA — Boston Celtics Center flew back to Boston Tuesday night after the team's preseason win against the Cleveland Cavaliers, but he didn't let it stop him from coming out to Stoughton the next day to pay the students at O'Donnell Middle School a visit. Kanter talked to the students about the importance of standing up for human rights and also spent some time answering questions.

The students were excited to meet Kanter. They cheered each other on as the new Celtic picked which students to ask a question. A bunch of the students just asked for an autograph; what Celtics fan wouldn't? But beyond that, the students had lots of questions and Kanter was more than happy to answer them all.

Here's some things O'Donnell Middle School students learned during their half hour with Kanter:

Don't take freedom for granted and stand up for what you belive

Kanter told the students about his own experiences growing up in Turkey. He said when he grew up, he wasn't always allowed to speak his mind without risk without consequences from the government.

Kanter has been critical of the Turkish government over human rights violations in his home country. In an op-ed with the Boston Globe, Kanter said he's faced harassment and death threats, but he will not be silenced.

"When you talk against the government or regime, they can put you in jail," Kanter told the Stoughton students. "It's important for me to come here and talk to you about freedom of expression and religion."

Kanter told students to not take the freedoms they have for granted and always stand up for what you believe is right.

"Not many people in the world have what you guys have, so you shouldn't take it for granted ...," he said. "Always stand up for what you believe and always stand up for what's right. For me, it's bigger than me, it's bigger than basketball."

Adjustment to the United States

Kanter left his family when he was 17 to come to the United States and pursue his dream of becoming a professional basketball player. One student asked Kanter if it was hard adjustment to come here.

"The first months, I had a hard time because I didn't know the language ...," Kanter said. "I didn't know the culture."

Kanter said it got easier though. Part of what what made that transition smoother for him was that the people he met in the U.S. respected him.

"It doesn't matter what your background is, what your culture or religion is, what your skin color is or what your language is," he told the students. "The most important thing in life is to leave your differences on the table and try to find something in common.

Yes, Kanter likes being tall (most of the time).

Kanter said being tall is tough sometimes, but for the most part he can't complain.

"I have to duck every time," Kanter said about going through doorways and hallways. "I cracked my head so many times because I'm 6-foot, 11 [inches], but it's always cool to be tall."

Stay in school. Don't watch Spongebob all day.

Kanter said his favorite subject in school was science and he always took school seriously. He urged students to do the same even if they think they got the talent to play professional basketball.

"You're only going to play the sport for so long," Kanter told the kids. "So when you retire, what are you going to do? You can't go home and play Fortnite all day. You can't go home and watch Spongebob all day."

Kanter's Shoe Size

It's 17. He said Tacko Fall's is 22 in case anyone was wondering.