Knicks' Enes Kanter uses fans to take latest shot at David Fizdale

Disgruntled center has not played last four games

1/30/2019, 12:56 AM
Jan 25, 2019; Brooklyn, NY, USA; New York Knicks center Enes Kanter (00) reacts as fans chant "we want Kanter" during the fourth quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports / Brad Penner
Jan 25, 2019; Brooklyn, NY, USA; New York Knicks center Enes Kanter (00) reacts as fans chant "we want Kanter" during the fourth quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports / Brad Penner

As long as Enes Kanter is still with the Knicks, he will still be firing shots. 

The Knicks center has not played in the last four games and his role on the bench continues to weigh on him, especially on Sunday when fans at Madison Square Garden began chanting his name. 

Following Monday's road loss to the Hornets, the 26-year-old center ripped head coach David Fizdale for not giving the fans what they wanted. 

"[Sunday] was probably the toughest," Kanter said, per Marc Berman of The Post. "[If] it was a road game, I understand. But it's a home game, and hte fans wanted to see me out here. And they were chanting. I felt bad I couldn't go out there and help my teammates and the organization.

"You can't go out there and help the fans because they're paying so much money to come watch us. They want to see me out there. When they don't, they start to get pissed. They want me to be out there."

Kanter was relegated to the bench in an effort to give 23-year-old Luke Kornet a better look, but the youngster is injured and Kanter thought he would get more playing time and instead is not playing at all.  

Things appeared to reach a breaking point on Friday when Fizdale singled out Kanter in front of the team at the morning shootaround to not make his complaints through the media. 

After Friday's game against the Nets, Kanter did just that and accused Fizdale of poor communication. 

Kanter has expressed desire to be traded ahead of the Feb. 7 deadline and the Knicks are exploring their options. 

The center's agent has asked him to dial back the rhetoric in the meantime. 

"My agent is saying just keep your head up, stay strong and stay in shape and being a good teammate and I'll handle the rest," Kanter said. "I'm going to leave it to him."

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