The WNBA isn’t fazed by former NBA players Enes Kanter and Royce White declaring for the 2027 WNBA Draft.
The recent debate on trans athletes playing in the WNBA took a surprising turn when former NBA center Enes Kanter declared his intentions to play in the WNBA through the 2027 Draft.
Former NBA player and now politician Royce White followed suit while also announcing his intention to run for President in 2028. The WNBA’s feelings on their actions have finally been revealed.
WNBA not taking Enes Kanter and Royce White’s WNBA Draft declarations seriouslyForbes’ women’s basketball insider Khristina Williams revealed that the WNBA isn’t taking the threat posed by Kanter and White’s Draft declaration seriously, slamming it as an attempt to sow division by bad-faith actors.
“Per league source, the WNBA is not taking declarations by former NBA players for the ‘27 WNBA Draft seriously. Source called them attempts to ‘sow division and chaos’ by ‘bad-faith actors.’ Nothing is imminent; league will follow its process and not let outside noise dictate it.”
Kanter has repeatedly said since his declaration that he will exhaust all legal means possible if he’s denied a chance at the WNBA.
Credit: Richard Tsong-Taatarii/The Minnesota Star Tribune/Jared Siskin/Patrick McMullan via Getty ImagesWhite will also press the issue unless the WNBA outlines that trans athletes cannot participate in the league, a step that they’re clearly unwilling to take.
This does put pressure on the WNBA to clarify the language of their CBA, which has not specified any parameters for who is considered an eligible woman to play in the WNBA.
Enes Kanter and Royce White’s NBA careers missed the markKanter was a role-playing center for 11 seasons in the NBA, averaging 11.2 points and 7.8 rebounds while playing for teams like the Jazz, Thunder, Blazers, Knicks, and Celtics.
He was expected to have star potential as the No. 3 pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, getting selected ahead of Klay Thompson, Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler, and more.
He had a decent NBA career where he was regarded as one of the best offensive rebounders in the league, but below the standards many expected for the former No. 3 overall pick.
White was selected No. 15 in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets, but would never play for the franchise due to issues related to his fear of flying and anxiety problems.
He did see the NBA court in three games for the Sacramento Kings, playing a total of nine minutes in the NBA before washing out of the league.
Read more:
Leave a Comment