שחקן ה-NBA שהודח לאחר שהתבטא נגד פשעי סין בריאיון מיוחד לחדשות NTD: "כבוד האדם חשוב יותר מחוזים"

The contrast between Chinese-American Winter Olympians Aileen Gu and Alyssa Liu is sparking discussions about money and principles. Joining us now is someone who's made a name for himself, standing up for principles over fame and gain, Enes Kanter-Freedom, former NBA star and leading activist for human rights around the world. Enes, thank you so much for joining us. Great to see you again. Now, a lot of focus on the two Chinese-Americans at the Winter Olympics and the different paths they've taken, one representing Communist China, the other America, despite China trying to recruit her. Now, you've also weighed in on this. Why do you think this contrast is getting so much traction? Well, thank you for having me, first. And second, you know, this story resonates because it is bigger than sports. It is about values, about identity, what freedom means in a world where authoritarian regimes are trying to expand influence. And, you know, you have one athlete representing the United States, a country built on liberty, freedom, and individual rights, and another competing for a government that tightly controls speech, media, and dissents, and literally tortures his own people. So people are not debating talent. They are debating principles. And in a time of rising global tension, these choices feel symbolic. So they force a broader conversation about whether success should be measured purely in medals and money, or also in the values we represent on a world stage. And what does this tell us about the Chinese regime's MO? You know, the Chinese government understands the power of symbolism, you know. It uses celebrities, sports, and global events to project an image of legitimacy and strength. You know, recruiting internationally recognized athletes, you know, is not just about competition. It is about soft power, and propaganda value, and shaping global perception. You know, financial insecurities and market access are powerful tools in that strategy. So this does not diminish the athlete's hard work, but it reveals how the regime blends prestige, economics, and national messaging advances influence. So it is a strategic playbook designed to win admiration abroad while suppressing dissents at home. And as in many ways, the story of these two winter Olympians mirrors your own personal story. You famously spoke up against the Chinese regime's persecution of Uighur Muslims at great risk to your professional career. Talk to us about what that cost you professionally and why you chose to do it anyway. You know, speaking out came with real consequences, especially when I, you know, wanted to speak up about all the China's human rights violations. I lost endorsement deals, business ties disappeared. I mean, I played basketball and NBA for 11 years, and I was healthy. I could have competed another five, six years. And unfortunately, because of the relationship between NBA and China, they said enough is enough. And unfortunately, the black hole and broadcast opportunities shrank. And I faced threats, and everybody knows about this. I was doing a hearing in the Congress with foreign affairs, and I asked one simple question. I was like, how can the biggest dictatorship in the world, China, can control a 100% made American organization like the NBA and fire a U.S. citizen? And unfortunately, they did not answer, they couldn't answer. You know, when you learn about forced labor, mass detention, organ harvesting, religious persecution, you cannot claim ignorance. Freedom is not meaningful if you only defend it when it's convenient. I chose to speak up because human dignity matters more than contracts and more than any kind of endorsement deals, because using your platform for truth is more important than protecting your comfort.