{
  "id": 3250888,
  "title": "‘His own country don’t want him’ – Shannon Sharpe torches Enes Kanter over WNBA stunt",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/his-own-country-dont-want-him-shannon-sharpe-torches-enes-kanter-over",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-25T11:30:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/own-country-don-t-want-113059969.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Shannon Sharpe unloaded on Enes Kanter during an appearance on the Nightcap podcast, accusing the Enes Kanter Freedom player of deliberately stirring controversy after his ejection from a WNBA game. The former NFL tight end, a Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, argued that Kanter is a washed-up player seeking attention. \"He’s ragebaiting, then he’s gonna run to Fox News and talk about see this is what I’m talking about, they’re not inclusive,\" Sharpe stated. Kanter’s plight has taken a dramatic turn, with his own country stripping him of his passport and declaring him a political exile due to his outspoken criticism of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Turkish government even issued arrest warrants for Kanter, effectively banning him from returning home. Sharpe’s remarks come in the wake of the recent WNBA controversy involving Natasha Cloud and Enes Kanter Freedom, where Cloud was ejected from the game. The incident has sparked a debate about the league's stance on transgender players and inclusivity.",
  "summary": "Shannon Sharpe pulled no punches on Nightcap, accusing Enes Kanter Freedom of deliberately ragebaiting after his courtside ejection at the Indiana Fever game. Shannon Sharpe made his name as a Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end, picking up three Super Bowl rings over an impressive 14-year NFL career.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Natasha Cloud met with WNBA security after Enes Kanter Freedom confrontation",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/natasha-cloud-met-with-wnba-security-after-enes-kanter-freedom",
        "published": "2026-08-24T04:12:06.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Front Office Sports",
        "title": "Enes Kanter Freedom, Royce White Not Eligible to Play in WNBA",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/enes-kanter-freedom-royce-white-not-eligible-to-play-in-wnba",
        "published": "2026-08-24T18:23:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Former NBA players Kanter Freedom, White not eligible for WNBA, sources say",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/former-nba-players-kanter-freedom-white-not-eligible-for-wnba-sources",
        "published": "2026-08-24T21:20:50.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}