Enes Kanter might get an assist to travel — from Canada’s Trudeau

Boston Celtics center Enes Kanter’s activism has made his personal life difficult. But he’s also made some powerful allies who could help.

The Boston Celtics might just get an assist from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for their game against the Toronto Raptors.

The popular Canadian politician won’t be suiting up for the fabled Massachusetts franchise, but could help confirm whether outspoken Celtics center Enes Kanter can travel to the U.S.’ northern neighbor without incident.

Kanter is known for speaking out against human rights abuses, and has had a longstanding feud with the president of his ancestral Turkish homeland — Recep Tayyip Erdogan — over abuses committed by the Turkish government that has come at great personal cost.

His family has experienced intense political pressure and discrimination, and Kanter himself had his Turkish passport revoked and an international arrest warrant issued over allegations of ties to terrorists that has made international travel a risky venture.

This put the political young big man’s Christmas Day availability into question, and with the Celtics already down two centers to injury, it represented something of a problem for the team.

At least, perhaps, until now.

“I have a phone conversation with [Prime Minister] Justin Trudeau,” Kanter explained (via WBUR’s Shira Springer). “So, that’s gonna be very exciting … I’m literally gonna ask, like, ‘Hey, I’m coming to your country. Is it OK for me to come?'”

Kanter’s activism has made him some powerful political allies in the United States and Massachusetts, and he doesn’t plan to relax on his engagement with important social issues any time soon. In fact, he may even run for office one day after getting his citizenship.

“I’m actually thinking about becoming an American politician. Maybe a senator,” he offered.

No one would blame the Turkish big man if the personal costs costing his family jobs, him his ability to visit them or even travel abroad became too much to bear. He’s often asked by his NBA peers why he continues to be so vocal about the rights of others given the intense personal costs.

“For me, it’s principles over anything, over business, over money, over endorsement deals,” Kanter explained. “This is way bigger than basketball because it doesn’t just affect me. It affects millions of people.”

While the Zurich native’s struggle for human rights will not end anytime soon, he may well end up being able to play for the Celtics on Christmas Day if his well-connected allies can get the 6-foot-10 center’s travel plans sorted.

While being able to play against Toronto is nothing in comparison to the struggles Kanter puts his career on the line for, Canadian assurances for his safe travel would be a fitting way to acknowledge the risks he takes for total strangers on a day we all ought to be thinking of others first.

Let’s hope Trudeau is no Grinch.