Kanter working on 3-point shot
Although it has been an unusual offseason for Thunder center Enes Kanter, he is finding time to work on his 3-point shooting.
To call Enes Kanter’s summer an adventure would be an understatement.
The 25-year-old Thunder center celebrated his birthday in airport purgatory, detained by Romanian authorities when his passport was canceled by the Turkish government. After making it back to the United States, he blew the lid off Rudy Gay’s free agency visit to Oklahoma City by tweeting a photo of Gay’s nameplate on a locker in the Thunder’s practice facility.
Of course, Kanter laughs about it now.
“I seriously thought he signed with us, but they just didn’t say it publicly,” Kanter told The Oklahoman Tuesday from New York City.
“After I saw he signed with the Spurs, I was like, ‘man I need to get a new source.’”
Whether it’s running from overseas authorities or being thrown into trade rumors yet again, the Thunder center has kept a sense of humor, and had some moments of clarity along the way.
Those moments often get lost in the Twitter blasting of Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, or a meme roasting Kevin Durant’s decision to go to the Warriors. But Kanter, entering his third full season with the Thunder, is more introspective than he gives off.
Before exit meetings in April, Kanter told the Thunder 3-point shooting would be a target of his offseason. He was coming off an embarrassing first-round postseason exit against Houston in which Billy Donovan was caught on camera saying Kanter couldn’t play in the series. He played just nine minutes a game.
Thunder general manager Sam Presti is confident Kanter can be a 3-point threat. It’s been a major focus of Kanter’s at Life Time Athletic Sky’s basketball court this summer in Manhattan.
Check his Twitter page. You might cringe at one of the world’s best offensive rebounders and post scorers standing 25 feet from the rim hoisting jumpers, but he hits 10 in a row from the top of the arc.
“I’ve been working on it a lot and really trying to be focused on it because I already have back-tothe-basket plays, postups, mid-range shots,” Kanter said. “I want to add something new to my game.”
Through the phone Tuesday, you could hear Kanter’s excitement about rejoining his Thunder teammates. He’s been limited to U.S. travel and charity work since his passport was canceled, but he’ll fly to L.A. on Sunday. In what’s become a summer tradition, Thunder players plan to link up Monday in L.A. for voluntary workouts.
Paul George is expected to be there. During the lockout of 2011, Kanter was a 19-year-old rookie when he first played George, who was “dunking like crazy” in a pickup game in L.A.
He had no clue who George was, but learned soon
“When the league started I was like, ‘man this guy is good,’” Kanter said.
“I think it’s gonna bring a lot of energy, excitement. I’m really excited he’s joining our team.”
Kanter was excited to run into Domantas Sabonis, too, but the young big man was sent to Indiana as part of the George trade.
When the news broke June 30, the buzz was all about the Thunder getting a four-time All-Star. That night, Kanter called Sabonis and the two talked for about 30 minutes.
Kanter remembered being traded as a 22-yearold from Utah to Oklahoma City. He remembered the unknown he faced preparing to play in a new city, but also the opportunity to start fresh.
In between politically charged Twitter videos and brushing off trade rumors (“If it happens, it happens,” Kanter said. ”But everybody knows I see this team and organization like my family.”) ... in between breaking free agent visit news and the Thunder’s oft-clandestine culture all at once, Kanter might be as Thunder as they come.
“I told him just keep going man, keep playing hard, you’re going to a really good place,” Kanter said.
“He could be a little lost and not understand what’s going on. I tried to explain to him it’s a business. When the time comes, just do your best.”