Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom has announced that he has officially begun the ‘transition’ to becoming a WNBA player and posted a video of a shirtless workout.
Freedom, who was the first of two former NBA players seeking entry to the league, shared a clip of him lifting weights on his X page.
‘Let ‘The Transition’ to the @WNBA begin,’ he posted in the caption. ‘Rules Are Rules! #LetFreedomPlay.’
The clip shows Freedom, who played on five NBA teams across his career, doing bicep curls while his abs and chiseled chest took center stage.
This video comes days after Freedom, 34, announced that he was ‘officially declaring’ himself as a prospect for the WNBA Draft in 2027.
While not outright announcing that he was identifying as a woman, or revealing that he is undergoing a medical gender transition, Freedom’s statement last Friday declared that he wanted ‘rules to be applied equally to everyone.’
Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom, who is seeking entrance to the WNBA, posted this workout video showing off the progress he is making to take part in the league’s draft
Freedom, who played 11 seasons in the NBA, has signed a petition to enter the draft in 2027
The former Knicks and Celtics star has sparked debate after announcing his intentions
‘If simply declaring who you are is all that’s required,’ Freedom said, ‘then I meet every single requirement necessary to compete in the WNBA.’
He added in his statement, ‘I know my presence on the court will stir up strong opinions. I am definitely not here to mock, make fun of, or disrespect any community or personal choices.
‘I’m simply asking that the current rules be applied equally to everyone – the rules that represent the very values many WNBA players and coaches have publicly advocated for.’
On Monday, Freedom shared a video of him signing a document petitioning the league to make him draft eligible.
‘Officially official,’ Freedom said. ‘@WNBA I have officially declared for the 2027 #WNBA Draft. Rules are rules! #LetFreedomPlay.’
The players’ union, the WNBPA, released a statement after Freedom’s Friday announcement, saying, ‘Hate, abuse, and demonization of any person or group of people, including transgender people, only fuel fear, division and harm.’
Freedom was selected third overall in the 2011 NBA Draft – but failed to have as impactful or decorated a career of players selected below him, including Klay Thompson, Kawhi Leonard and Jimmy Butler among others.
He averaged 11.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game across 748 career games played for the Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers and Boston Celtics. Freedom last played in the 2021-22 NBA season.
