{"id":35292,"date":"2026-08-09T22:34:40","date_gmt":"2026-08-09T17:34:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=35292"},"modified":"2026-08-09T22:34:40","modified_gmt":"2026-08-09T17:34:40","slug":"robin-lopez-takes-shot-at-enes-kanter-royce-white-amid-unreal-wnba-claim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=35292","title":{"rendered":"Robin Lopez takes shot at Enes Kanter, Royce White amid unreal WNBA claim"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<p>A day after <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/08\/08\/sports\/wnba-task-force-to-discuss-growing-drama-around-transgender-athletes\/?utm_campaign=nypost&amp;utm_medium=referral\">Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White<\/a> announced they were planning to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft, they\u2019ve already <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/rolopez42\/status\/2086180079907024901?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-nyp-affiliate=\"true\">started to receive backlash<\/a> from former NBA players.<\/p>\n<p>Robin Lopez, a Los Angeles native who played at Stanford, had a 16-year NBA career and called out Freedom on an X repost from former NFL star Robert Griffin III in which Griffin asked sports fans their thoughts about Freedom and White declaring for the WNBA draft.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBiggest issue: If you\u2019re being drafted, people are saying \u2018We want you around for 4 years,\u201d Lopez wrote. \u201c&amp; I can\u2019t imagine anybody wants Enes Kanter or Royce White around them for 4 minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>White responded to Lopez\u2019s comment by writing \u201cLol join the club ROBIN\u2026 I\u2019ll slap your big goofy ass, b\u2014- slap you like pootie tang! I will fight over these trans rights.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Lopez responded to White and said: \u201cYes we get it you love slapping people with women\u2019s names.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"40260430\"><br \/>\n\t<default:svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"icon-plus\" fill=\"#fff\" viewbox=\"0 0 1033 1000\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\"><default:path d=\"M380 364V0h273v355h380v290H653v355H380V645H0V355h380v9z\"\/><\/default:svg><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<img style=\"aspect-ratio:1.49926794;display:block\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-modal-image=\"40260430\" width=\"885\" height=\"590\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2261135616_2edf89.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Robin Lopez holding an NBA TV microphone during the NBA All-Star Weekend.\" class=\"wp-image-40260430\" 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https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2261135616_2edf89.jpg?resize=93,62&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 93w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2261135616_2edf89.jpg?resize=84,56&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 84w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2261135616_2edf89.jpg?resize=60,40&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 60w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2261135616_2edf89.jpg?resize=105,70&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 105w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2261135616_2edf89.jpg?resize=81,54&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 81w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2261135616_2edf89.jpg?resize=200,133&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2261135616_2edf89.jpg?resize=231,154&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 231w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2261135616_2edf89.jpg?resize=322,215&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 322w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2261135616_2edf89.jpg?resize=661,441&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 661w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2261135616_2edf89.jpg?resize=90,60&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 90w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2261135616_2edf89.jpg?resize=120,80&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 120w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2261135616_2edf89.jpg?resize=1200,800&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2261135616_2edf89.jpg?resize=1038,692&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1038w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2261135616_2edf89.jpg?resize=87,58&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 87w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2261135616_2edf89.jpg?resize=50,33&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 885px) 100vw, 885px\"\/><figcaption>Ex-NBA player Robin Lopez (above) criticized Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White after they declared for the WNBA draft. <span class=\"credit\">NBAE via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-primary-tag\">\n<div class=\"inline-module inline-module--more inline-module--author inline-module--more--thirds\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__inner\">\n<h2 class=\"inline-module__heading subsection-heading subsection-heading--underline subsection-heading--underline--indent-30 \">\n\t\t\tMore From\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"subsection-heading__sub\">Thomas L. Murray<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>White announced that he was planning to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft, just hours after <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/08\/07\/sports\/enes-kanter-freedom-claims-hes-entering-wnba-draft-in-wake-of-sophie-cunningham-drama\/\">Kanter did on Friday<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m transgender. I\u2019m a woman. \u2026 I identify as sometimes identifying as a woman for purposes of\u2026 professional basketball,\u201d White told <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/outkick-sports\/former-nba-player-royce-white-declaring-next-wnba-draft-enes-kanter-announcement\">Fox News<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>White had a short-lived NBA career, appearing in three games for the Sacramento Kings in 2013-2014, and only saw three minutes of playing time. In his post-playing career, he\u2019s become involved in politics and is now a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"40260424\"><br \/>\n\t<default:svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"icon-plus\" fill=\"#fff\" viewbox=\"0 0 1033 1000\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\"><default:path d=\"M380 364V0h273v355h380v290H653v355H380V645H0V355h380v9z\"\/><\/default:svg><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<img style=\"aspect-ratio:1.49926794;display:block\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-modal-image=\"40260424\" width=\"885\" height=\"590\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1238104508.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Basketball player Enes Kanter Freedom holding a basketball while wearing a green Boston Celtics shirt.\" class=\"wp-image-40260424\" 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https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1238104508.jpg?resize=200,133&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1238104508.jpg?resize=231,154&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 231w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1238104508.jpg?resize=322,215&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 322w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1238104508.jpg?resize=662,441&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 662w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1238104508.jpg?resize=90,60&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 90w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1238104508.jpg?resize=120,80&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 120w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1238104508.jpg?resize=1200,800&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1238104508.jpg?resize=1038,692&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1038w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1238104508.jpg?resize=87,58&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 87w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1238104508.jpg?resize=50,33&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 885px) 100vw, 885px\"\/><figcaption>Enes Kanter Freedom once played for the Boston Celtics. <span class=\"credit\">Sports Illustrated via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Freedom and White\u2019s intentions to join the WNBA draft came days after Sophie Cunningham\u2019s comments on transgender athletes, which sparked <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/08\/07\/sports\/megan-rapinoe-blasts-sophie-cunningham-for-picture-with-riley-gaines\/\">controversy around the league<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Cunningham has been facing backlash for comments she made earlier this year about transgender athletes. She stated that biological men should not be allowed to compete against biological women in sports.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/08\/07\/sports\/enes-kanter-freedom-claims-hes-entering-wnba-draft-in-wake-of-sophie-cunningham-drama\/\">The Post reported <\/a>that Freedom said his decision to enter the WNBA draft has zero intent to troll Cunningham\u2019s opponents.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A day after Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White announced they were planning to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft, they\u2019ve already started to receive backlash from former NBA players. Robin Lopez, a Los Angeles native who played at Stanford, had a 16-year NBA career and called out Freedom on an X repost from former NFL&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":35293,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/COMP-1-9.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1200","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35292","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pics-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35292","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=35292"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35292\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/35293"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=35292"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=35292"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=35292"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}