The Spin

Kanter Freedom's team is framing this as a serious athletic pursuit, with the former NBA big man showing he's committed to proving himself at the next level — whatever that means. His physique speaks for itself: dedication, work ethic, and a genuine desire to compete.

The Tea

Insiders are scratching their heads over this whole situation. One league source told us Kanter Freedom hasn't been in contact with any WNBA teams, and there's zero indication anyone would even consider drafting a 6'10" male center. The consensus? This is pure engagement farming wrapped in gym selfies.

The Receipts

Kanter Freedom declared for the 2026 WNBA Draft on August 11, 2026, per TMZ's report. He posted a shirtless workout video showing himself 'shredded' at 6'10" — physically impossible to hide in a women's league context.

The Last Byte

Look, nobody's denying Kanter Freedom is jacked. But this WNBA Draft gambit reads less like a legitimate athletic pursuit and more like a man desperate to stay relevant after his NBA career imploded under the weight of his own controversial takes.

Enes Kanter Freedom apparently isn't done being controversial — and now he's taking his act to the women's game. The former NBA center, who changed his name from Enes Kanter after gaining U.S. citizenship in 2021, declared for the WNBA Draft this week and immediately followed up by posting a shirtless workout video that's since gone viral for all the wrong reasons. In the clip, which TMZ obtained on August 11, 2026, Kanter Freedom can be seen absolutely rippling with muscle — we're talking full 'shredded' mode here. The 6'10" big man appears to be attempting to demonstrate his physical readiness for professional basketball, presumably expecting people to forget the obvious biological realities that would make competing in the WNBA a complete non-starter for him. He captioned the video discussing his 'transition,' though it's unclear whether he's referring to his fitness journey or something else entirely. Kanter Freedom's NBA career effectively ended after he became an outspoken critic of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, leading to his passport being revoked and his family publicly distancing themselves from him. He found a brief landing spot with the Boston Celtics in 2021 before washing out of the league entirely. Since then, he's pivoted hard into political commentary and, apparently, content creation. The internet, predictably, had a field day with this one. Social media exploded with reactions ranging from confused laughter to outright condemnation of what many are calling an inappropriate appropriation of women's sports discourse. One user wrote that Kanter Freedom 'looks like he's training for the wrong draft entirely.' Another pointed out the obvious: 'Imagine being 6'10" and thinking you belong in a league where players average 5'9".' WNBA insiders have been notably quiet about this development, which sources say likely means nobody in the organization is taking it seriously. The collective silence from team executives speaks volumes — Kanter Freedom can post all the gym content he wants, but at the end of the day, physics and biology don't care about shirtless selfies. This latest stunt raises questions about what Kanter Freedom's endgame actually is. Is this a genuine attempt to continue playing professional basketball? A publicity stunt designed to keep his name in headlines? Or something else entirely? Whatever the case may be, one thing's for certain: the former NBA player has once again managed to make himself impossible to ignore — even if nobody's actually picking up the phone.

📰 Sources

TMZ

📷 Julia Nikhinson · Getty Images