Enes Kanter Feels Support from Coach and Teammates

Look up the definition of the word “thriving” in the dictionary, and you just might find a picture of Enes Kanter, the starting center for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Dictionary.com defines the word as “to grow or develop vigorously,” which accurately describes what Kanter has experienced since joining the team seven weeks ago at the trade deadline. While many national pundits and people outside of Oklahoma City have criticized Kanter’s play (particularly his defensive issues), his Thunder teammates and head coach have been very supportive and welcoming.

Kanter, the Utah Jazz’s third overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, seemed to be doing well during his fourth year in the league. In 49 games, he was averaging 13.8 points and 7.8 rebounds in 27.1 minutes, but he was growing frustrated with his role amid the frontcourt logjam. He was not happy with the stretch-four type of player Utah was trying to sculpt him into, nor was he happy with their non-competitive 19-34 record before the All-Star Break. Kanter started vocalizing his desire for a trade, and the Thunder made its move.

In Oklahoma City, Kanter jumped all in, and his teammates welcomed him with open arms. Interview after interview showed a beaming Kanter praising the Thunder organization and crediting his teammates for any bit of personal success. Even now, when asked to address how his game has grown since the trade, he points to his relationship with his teammates as the key factor.

“I think the most important thing was just being friends with all of them,” Kanter told Basketball Insiders. “All of the guys, since day one, all (have) been open and honest and just trying to help me every time.”

In just 23 games with the Thunder, Kanter is averaging career numbers in points per game (18.3) and rebounds (11.0) in just 30.8 minutes. Already, he leads the team in field goal percentage (.560) and in rebounds – both defensive and offensive – plus he’s third in scoring behind Russell Westbrook (27.5) and now-sidelined Kevin Durant (25.4). For certain, Kanter is thriving in Oklahoma City.

The Thunder had been craving an offensive post presence for a long while, and despite rumors of a Brook Lopez acquisition, they traded Kendrick Perkins, Reggie Jackson, Grant Jerrett, draft rights to Tibor Pleiss and a protected 2017 first-round pick to land Kanter, forwards Kyle Singler and Steve Novak and point guard D.J. Augustin in a three-team trade. Rather than repeating Utah’s attempt to expand Kanter’s range in an ill-fitting role – he attempted 41 three-pointers in Utah this year, but just two in OKC – Thunder coach Scott Brooks is concentrating on taking advantage of Kanter’s true abilities.

“He’s getting more comfortable with us, I think,” shared Nick Collison. “We’re getting more comfortable with him and what he can do. He’s played great on the offensive end since he’s been here.”

Kanter’s offensive interior skillset meshes well with floor-spreading power forward Serge Ibaka (still sidelined after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery in March) and defensive-minded center Steven Adams. As talented as Kanter is offensively at punishing teams with his scoring, the Thunder are looking for defensive improvement as well.

“He realizes that we have to get better defensively, and he’s going to be a big part of that moving forward,” said Brooks of Kanter. “That’s a tough transition going into a trade in the middle of the season. He’s improved in that area, not enough, but we’re going to continue to work with him.”

“He’s picking up and getting better on the defensive end,” added Collison. ”He’s getting a better grasp on what we’re trying to do there. It’s difficult to jump right in and learn all the stuff we’ve been doing here for years as the new guy. He’s still a young player.”

Collison is right about that. Kanter, 6’11, is just 22 years old. And even though he’s no newcomer to the NBA, he remains open to direction and instruction from his teammates. We asked Kanter which Thunder player has been the most helpful to him on the floor since arriving in Oklahoma City.

“All of them,” he replied. “Of course Russell’s leadership, he really tries to help me.”

By all accounts, Kanter is focused on making it stick in Oklahoma City. He knows he’s on a contending team, and he knows he’s valued there. It doesn’t hurt that the Thunder has a habit of taking young, talented players and developing them in their system.

“He’s making great strides,” said Anthony Morrow, who is completing his first season with the Thunder. “Obviously he’s playing at an incredible level. He’s always been a great player, so I’m glad he’s here. He’s really working on every area of his game on both ends of the floor, and he’s really coming along. So (he’s got) a really bright future.”

“He’s getting better,” agreed Collison. “It’s good to see, because he’s a big part of our team.”

Kanter is set to become a restricted free agent this summer. Offers will come, so it will be up to the Thunder to match them if he is, indeed, part of their future.

“I think he has the potential of really continuing to grow with us,” noted Brooks.

Clearly, this has been one of the most challenging seasons the Thunder has endured. With Durant playing in only 27 games and being ruled out for the season – Kanter has yet to even share the floor with the MVP superstar – along with all the other injuries affecting so many players on the team, their playoff hopes are on the line. We quite possibly won’t know if the Thunder will even make the playoffs until the very last regular season game is played in a few days.

“We have a talented group of guys,” Brooks said. “This is, probably when everybody’s healthy, our most talented group we’ve had here, but we have to continue to get better with the group we have right now, and we have to do that quickly.”

True to form, when we asked Kanter to identify those areas in which he would like to see improvement, he preferred to talk about the team.

“I think as a team, we just have to make the playoffs right now, so that’s our main goal,” he answered.

The Thunder are in a heated race against the New Orleans Pelicans for the eighth spot in the Western Conference. Kanter has appeared in only one playoff series (2011-12). With the infectious enthusiasm he displays nightly and the playing level he’s reaching, these playoffs would provide great experience for him. It would be a shame for the Thunder’s season to end so abruptly, but it would hardly be surprising given how many games have been played this year without their starters.