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Thunder: Why Enes Kanter kept talking after his U.S. return

Enes Kanter's out-of-the-ordinary European experience has ended. Even as he was embraced in the place he now calls home, his work wasn't finished.

In the Thunder center's quest to get back to the United States after his passport was ruled invalid in Romania, he was showered with text messages of encouragement. Kanter started his day Monday with a hug from teammate Nick Collison. The process to get him back stateside took hours rather than days or weeks.

Yet, Kanter's unyielding support contrasts the plight of numerous Turkish citizens, he said. It's why Monday the easygoing big man wanted to be the voice of what he feels is an oppressed population.