Before moving to the US in 2009 to attend college in California, Kanter was a star basketball player in Turkey’s premier leagues. He said despite playing for the NBA in the US, he still sees himself as a champion for Turkey and its people. “I was Turkey’s best basketball player, and I’m still Turkey’s best basketball player. The only difference is that I’m now representing my country in the US. I left Turkey for a better opportunity in my career, to play in the NBA,” he added. “I think everyone in society has an obligation to speak out on issues of human rights and democracy, and to stand tall against atrocities, inhumane practices and dictatorships,” Kanter said. Celebrities like himself “have a bigger opportunity to make a difference and to raise awareness on such issues because of our platforms,” he added.