Athlete

When I say all of this stuff about Turkey, people don't understand. They think I don't like Turkey. I love Turkey. I love my people. I love Turkish food and everything. But my problem is with the government.

Steven Adams was a very, very big fan of halal food.

If you win in New York, you're the king of the world.

Our team security said, even if you go to a supermarket, have someone with you. So everywhere I go - grocery shopping, practice, go to games, go to plays - I always have someone with me because you never know, a lone wolf, one of the crazy Erdogan supporters will do something.

I am immensely blessed to be in America. This country has given me so much since I came here from Turkey as a teenager, and I feel obliged to give back to the community. I spent the summer crisscrossing the nation, holding 50 basketball camps for kids in 30 states.

The N.B.A. provides a big platform to shed light on the human rights violations in Turkey and gives a voice to the thousands of people persecuted.

I want to stay with the Knicks. They have great fans, team, organization, people. I would love to stay here.

I'm definitely happy that I'm part of the Oklahoma City team, a winner team, so I think it's going to go really well in the future.

I'm an NBA player with no shoe deal. No endorsement deal. And I play in New York!

I'm not a criminal or a radical. I'm not 'dangerous.' I'm a human being with opinions and beliefs that I have a right to express.

I understand my mother and father and sister are in Turkey, but if I stop talking, who is going to speak for the thousands and thousands of innocent people in jail?

I have the travel documents. I have a green card. I can go anywhere.

The Turkish government is very famous for hunting down those who oppose Erdogan... I just didn't really want to risk my life by going to Europe where Erdogan's long arms are everywhere.

Professional athletes have an enormous opportunity to be a source of inspiration for the younger generation, lead by example, and prove to them that as long as you stand up for what you believe in, everything is possible.

Basketball is my escape, and I cannot bring any of my problems onto the court.

I think it's so cool to just prove haters wrong. All you have to do is go out there and just fight.

I've been to playoffs before. That should be everybody's goal is the playoffs.

My observance as a practicing Muslim in the NBA is somewhat uncommon. Since joining the league in 2011, my dedication to my faith has aroused the curiosity of teammates, coaches, trainers and fans.

People often ask me why I continue to speak out if it's hurting my family. But that's exactly why I speak out. The people Erdogan is targeting are my family, my friends, my neighbors, my classmates. I need to speak out, or my country will suffer in silence.

My job is to go out there and play as hard as I can. Because the fans are paying so much money to come and see the game.