Enes Kanter cleared to travel to Canada for Christmas day game vs. Raptors

Enes Kanter will make his first international trip in more than a year on Tuesday as the Celtics center announced he would be cleared to travel with the team to Toronto in an Op-Ed in the Globe and Mail website.

Kanter has been wanted by the Turkish Government for arrest since last year after protesting the regime, led by Tayyib Erdogan. After consultation with the US government and Canadian governments, Kanter has gained clearance to make the trip. He did not travel with the Blazers last year for their trip to Toronto.

“I want to thank Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government, U.S. and Canadian law enforcement, U.S. Senator Ed Markey, the Celtics, the NBA and my managers for working diligently to make my Christmas game against the Raptors possible and ensuring my safety there,” Kanter penned in the Globe and Mail. “And, on Christmas night, I will play in my first game outside the U.S. in years when I take the court against the Raptors.”

Kanter has been playing some of the best basketball of his Celtic career over the last four games, playing over 20-plus minutes in all four contests with Rob Williams (hip) sidelined. He’s averaging 13.3 rebounds per game over the stretch and that bulk will be essential against a Raptor frontline that includes elite rebounding bigs like Serge Ibaka and Chris Boucher.

The Raptors are expected to be without Pascal Siakam, Marc Gasol and Norm Powell for Wednesday’s matchup against the C’s at the Scotiabank Arena. Meanwhile, the Celtics could get an additional boost on top of Kanter traveling in the form of a returning Gordon Hayward, who is expected to be probable to play after sitting out the last three games with a sore foot.