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Russell Westbrook has re-signed with the Thunder after rumors the team would trade him if he didn’t. It’s a move that’s great for both sides, even if it barely changes the reality of the situation.
Naturally, Thunder fans are pretty pleased with Westbrook, but there’s no bigger fan of Westbrook than his teammate Enes Kanter. Just minutes after the Westbrook news was made official, Kanter crying Jordan’d Lakers fans, who were obviously hoping Westbrook would be traded to Los Angeles.
Stop refreshing the page Lol
— Enes Kanter (@Enes_Kanter) August 4, 2016
it's true pic.twitter.com/WxyZUHImWN
WAIT. It gets even better.
I ain't gonna join the enemy
— Enes Kanter (@Enes_Kanter) August 4, 2016
I'm here to compete pic.twitter.com/2Elu93b4P5
Enes Kanter will never stop going in. In fact, since Durant left, Kanter has turned into a full-fledged Thunder loyalist. Let’s take a journey through his tweets.
Aug. 2: ‘Calls out’ leaving beat writer
Wow!! Another traitor
— Enes Kanter (@Enes_Kanter) August 3, 2016
I m burning your news
Haha Good luck bro !!!
Will miss you (Maybe) @anthonyVslater pic.twitter.com/VJkzyw4aIE
Yup, that’s Anthony Slater’s head Photoshopped onto the image that went with Kevin Durant’s Player’s Tribune announcement that he was joining the Warriors.
(It’s worth noting that he joking called him "another traitor," of course.)
July 26: Defends Russell Westbrook
Wrong!!!
— Enes Kanter (@Enes_Kanter) July 27, 2016
I do..!
U kidding me!
He makes all of us better.
Don't listen that crazy stuff #ThunderNation https://t.co/Qsau3PDmGo
Kanter quoted a tweet from that awful new Fox Sports show that said, "Russell Westbrook is the new Dwight Howard. No one wants to play with him." That’s ridiculous, but Kanter calling them out says it better than I can.
July 25: Suggests new names for KD’s old restaurant
Stache's
— Enes Kanter (@Enes_Kanter) July 26, 2016
Turkish&Kiwi Cuisine pic.twitter.com/JGCNfXLLHt
A Kanter and Steven Adams-led restaurant would never fail, I’ll tell you that.
July 9: Retweets this quote of his about Westbrook
Enes Kanter stands with the Brodie. We fully endorse this message. (via https://t.co/GbWgv7u9Dw) pic.twitter.com/A2dfizNT55
— Up The Thunder (@UpTheThunder) July 9, 2016
Kanter is as loyal a Westbrook supporter as there is out there, it would seem.
July 8: Offers a Durant jersey burning solution
Don't waste and burn anymore jerseys #ThunderNation
— Enes Kanter (@Enes_Kanter) July 8, 2016
Here is a good idea Lol pic.twitter.com/DEOV2wRkWV
That’s just smart budget balancing!
July 4: Tweets this cryptic emoji message
❤️⚡️
— Enes Kanter (@Enes_Kanter) July 4, 2016
I originally thought on July 4 that this was a shot at Durant, saying "chickens love the Thunder," aka saying Durant was a chicken. But it makes a lot more sense that Kanter is just saying "Turkey loves the Thunder," as he is Turkish. And yes, as it was tweeted on the day Durant chose Golden State, it had some subtext to it.
Either way, Kanter has turned into the biggest, most loyal Thunder fan there is. (Never mind that offer sheet he signed with Portland last summer.) The only thing we really know is that Kanter will never stop going in, not now, not ever.
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