NEW YORK - Enes Kanter wasted no time showing his immense confidence at media day at the 2011 NBA Draft. Kanter, who sat out a year for Kentucky after being ruled ineligible for accepting money to play professionally in Turkey, needed to show people that he is still an outstanding player. He did so by making a bold declaration.
"If I could have played [at Kentucky], I would go with the No. 1 pick," he said. "I believe I am the best player in this draft."
Kanter's confidence didn't stop there, as he also said Kentucky would have won the 2011 NCAA title easily had he been in the lineup. He admitted the year off was very difficult.
"When the NCAA told me, 'No, you cannot play,' it just makes me sad because I couldn't help my teammates, I couldn't help my coaches and I couldn't help Kentucky," he said. "I came here for an education too, because you cannot do that in Turkey. You have to pick basketball, or you have to pick education. I wanted to do both, so that's why I came here. For them to tell me, 'No, you cannot play' just makes me really sad."
He also declared his interest in playing for the Washington Wizards, who own the No. 6 pick and have been rumored to be discussing trade proposals to move up and draft him.
"I would love to go to D.C. It's international city, and Obama loves basketball. I would love to play with John Wall. I think it's a great team."
For more on Kanter, visit SBNation.com.