Kanter reveals death threats

Oklahoma City center Enes Kanter is revealing new death threats over his views on the Turkish government, and he wants to become a U.S. citizen.

Kanter’s Turkish passport was canceled over the weekend, leading to his brief detainment in Romania. At a news conference in New York, Kanter says he was the target of two new threats on Monday.

Kanter has long been a critic of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whom he has likened to Adolf Hitler on multiple occasions. Kanter contends, among other things, that a failed coup attempt last year was actually staged by the Erdogan-led government.

Kanter makes no secret of his support of Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, who opposes Erdogan. Kanter said that when he was detained in Romania, he feared he would be sent back to Turkey.

Kanter said he has not spoken with his parents and other relatives in Turkey in more than a year.