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Former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White have been in the news recently regarding their attempt to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft while claiming transgender status. Although the WNBA has yet to comment publicly on the potential validity of their claims, it appears as if their plans have come to an end as the league reportedly has made it clear that they will not be draft eligible, as per Colin Salao of Front Office Sports.
The latest occurrence from the duo happened during Sunday’s WNBA game between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever when Enes Kanter Freedom was ejected from the arena after getting into a verbal confrontation with Sky guard Natasha Cloud.
Kanter Freedom was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz. He played 11 seasons in the league with his final year coming during the 2021-22 season with the Boston Celtics. The Celtics traded him to the Houston Rockets at the deadline that year but he was waived.
He holds career averages of 11.2 points and 7.8 rebounds with splits of 54.8 percent shooting from the field, 28.9 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 77.7 percent shooting from the free-throw line.
Royce White, on the other hand, appeared in only three NBA games with the Sacramento Kings during the 2013-14 season. The No. 16 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets, White never appeared in a game with the team during his rookie season amid mental health concerns. He did, however, appear in 16 games that year with the Rockets’ G League affiliate.
White was ultimately traded to the Philadelphia 76ers the following year, and he was waived before the start of the season. He would sign a 10-day contract with the Kings later that year, but would not play in an NBA game again.