November 29, 2021.
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Mr Kanter said that freedom is the greatest thing a human can have.
"That's why I wanted to carry that word with me wherever I go," he said.
The name change would take place at the same time as his naturalisation ceremony, according to Mr. Kanter's manager.
He used his new name to swear his oath of allegiance to the United States during the ceremony.
After taking the oath, he waved a flag in the air and said "freedom - that's it" while signing his document.
The name 'Freedom' will be on his jersey when the Celtics play the 76ers later this week. The team-mates already call him by that name.
Mike Pompeo, the former Secretary of State, said on Monday that he "embodies many of the values that make our nation great" after praising Mr Kanter for seeking US citizenship.
Since arriving in the US in 2009, Mr. Kanter has been an outspoken critic of both his native Turkey and China.
In October, his name was blocked on Chinese social media and streams of Celtics games were reportedly canceled after he referred to President Xi Jinping as a "brutal dictator".
"My message for the Chinese government is to free Tibet," Mr Kanter said. Tibet is owned by Tibetans.
He used his social media to argue for a boycott of the Beijing Olympics because of the Chinese government's treatment of the Uyghur people.
China's foreign ministry accused Mr Kanter of trying to get attention.
The Turkish President has been referred to as a "dictator" by the NBA veteran.
Turkish authorities have an international arrest warrant for Mr Kanter, accusing him of having links with groups involved in a failed 2016 coup. He denied the accusations.
The caption is media.
Why the New York Knicks will be without their player.
Turkey.
China.
The United States.
Tibet.
