Enes Kanter Freedom suggested he will pursue legal action against the Chicago Sky and owner Michael Alter after Alter invoked shooting a gun as an “extreme example” while explaining why the former NBA center was ejected from Sunday’s Sky vs. Fever game without a warning.
“Im not talking about against the WNBA, but I think against Michael Alter and the Chicago Sky for sure,” Freedom said. “Like, I dont think they know what theyre talking about.”
“Me and my legal team will definitely be taking actions against Chicago Sky and Michael Alter,” he added.
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Freedom did not identify a specific legal cause of action or say when he plans to file a lawsuit.
Alter made the gun analogy during an exclusive interview with OutKick on Wednesday. He was responding to Freedoms contention that security should have warned him before ejecting him from Sundays game between the Sky and Indiana Fever. Alter said Freedom was deemed a threat when he stepped toward the court, while waving his hands in the air and pointing at a player.
“He wasnt given a warning because certain threats dont get warnings,” Alter said. “To use an extreme example, when you shoot a gun at someone, you dont get a warning, Dont do that again. Your action doesnt deserve a warning. You take action that becomes a threat, you dont get a warning.”
Alter used the example to argue that security does not always need to issue a warning before responding to conduct it considers threatening.
Freedom nevertheless called the statement “unacceptable.”
“I mean, he needs to check himself,” Freedom said.
Alter announced Tuesday that the Sky had banned Freedom from future team games at Wintrust Arena. Alter said the ban could be reconsidered if Freedom proves to the teams satisfaction that he can follow its rules without becoming a potential threat.
“They threw me out of the game,” Freedom said. “They couldve given me a warning and said, Hey, next time were gonna throw you out. And Im like, Okay, sure. But I didnt do anything. I will still say I didnt do anything wrong.”
Freedom said he paid approximately $4,000 for the courtside tickets, and has requested a refund.
The dispute centers on Freedoms movement during his third-quarter confrontation with Cloud.
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The WNBA Fan Code of Conduct states that guests who fight, throw objects or attempt to enter the court will be immediately ejected. Alter said security concluded that Freedom attempted to enter the court when he stood, extended his arms, pointed at Cloud and took a step toward the playing surface.
Footage shows security quickly approach Freedom and place a hand on him after he stepped forward.
Freedom insisted that he never intended to enter the court and that the step captured
