Q&A: Enes Kanter

Courtesy of Anthony Slater

Did you have any idea a trade was possible heading into the deadline?

My agent kinda gave me a heads-up that something might happen. But I had practice that day with the Pistons. I got in the shower after practice and by the time I got out the shower I heard I got traded.

When you hear it’s the Thunder, is your first thought about reuniting with Kevin (Durant), your former college teammate?

Yeah, I was excited about that and also being on a great team and with a great organization. Those were the main things.

You were a starter for the past couple weeks in Detroit, but here you’ll obviously back up Russell Westbrook. How do you think you kinda fit here?

I just want to do whatever I can to help the team. Just come in and play hard, do all the right things on defense and everything will take care of itself.

How close are you with Kevin?

Man, we’re like brothers. Obviously we don’t see each other as much as we used to, but when we do see each other we are like brothers. More than friends.

See him in the offseason?

Yeah, we see each other. Now, we’re in different stages of our lives. I have kids and a wife and KD is all around the world. So we don’t see each other as much as we used to, like I said, but when we see each other it’s like we never left.

Not the only guy on the team you know. Talked to Anthony Morrow and he said he knows you well. Who else do you know?

Played with Steve Novak in Toronto. We’re real close and our wives are real close. Also Kyle Singler. Played with him in Detroit for awhile. And the NBA is like a fraternity. So we all know each other.

Give us a little scouting report on Kyle Singler, a guy you’ve played with all year.

He’s a hard-nosed guy that’s going to do whatever it takes to help the team win. Rebound, score, play defense, can do all the little things.

Steve Novak’s already in here cracking jokes, everyone laughing. What kind of locker room guy is he?

Yeah, Steve’s a vet. He’s been around. Whatever team he’s on, he fits in right away. Like you said, he’s very funny. Great guy and great player.