Chicago Sky denies Enes Kanter lawsuit, says removal was for conduct not speech
The WNBA franchise said the lawsuit filed by former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom is meritless and that his ejection from a game was due to a code-of-conduct violation, not his expression.
Chicago Sky principal owner Michael Alter issued a statement responding to a lawsuit filed by former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom. The team said the complaint, which alleges a First Amendment violation after Kanter was removed from a game at Wintrust Arena, is "meritless and frivolous."
According to the statement, security personnel asked Kanter to leave only after he stood up, gestured toward a player and approached the court, actions that the team says breached the arena’s fan code of conduct. The organization contended that his removal was based on conduct, not the shirt he was wearing or any speech.
The Sky added that it will not comment further while litigation is pending and expects the court to determine the facts.
Kanter’s lawsuit, filed in Illinois, also names the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority and the city of Chicago, alleging they jointly acted to remove him during a Sky versus Indiana Fever game on Aug. 23.