Super Bowl champion Shannon Sharpe took aim at Enes Kanter on an episode of his “Nightcap” podcast, accusing the former NBA player of “rage baiting” for attention. Sharpe, alongside Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson and former NBA All-Star Joe Johnson, questioned Kanter’s motives after he was ejected from a WNBA game following a heated exchange with Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud.
Sharpe and his co-hosts wasted no time calling out Kanter during an episode of “Nightcap,” saying the former Boston Celtics player only attended to draw attention to himself and make a ruckus. “He probably ain’t never been to no WNBA game. Then go there just to be the agitator, just cause ruckus, just to make the headlines. Come on, bro, what we doing?” Joe Johnson said.
Sharpe didn’t seem as annoyed as others, saying Kanter’s motive is likely to rile people up so he can garner attention. “He’s rage baiting. Then he’s gonna run to Fox News and talk about, ‘See, this is what I’m talking about, they’re not inclusive. They wanna have their cake and eat it too’ and yada yada yada yada yada,” he said.
Sharpe didn’t end there; the 8X Pro-Bowler even came for Kanter’s ability to perform, saying if he “were good,” he’d still be in the NBA. “His own home country don’t want him back,” Sharpe said.
Enes Kanter Ejected From WNBA Game After Getting Into Verbal Altercation With Natasha Cloud
On Sunday, August 23, Kanter was ejected from a Chicago Sky game after getting into a verbal altercation with Natasha Cloud. The moment occurred in the third quarter, and videos show Kanter approaching the baseline with his arms outstretched, jawing back at the WNBA veteran.
Kanter showed up at the WNBA game just weeks after declaring for the 2027 WNBA Draft. His declaration came amid a growing controversy over transgender athletes in women’s sports, sparked in part by Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham’s comments on the topic.
Quite possibly and quite literally the biggest loser in the world https://t.co/GPZAgu3PW0
— Shaun CHAMPION Geddes (@iHateShaun) August 24, 2026
“If simply declaring who you are is all that’s required,” he said, “then I meet every single requirement necessary to compete in the WNBA.” He stated further: “I’m simply asking that the current rules be applied equally to everyone, the rules that represent the very values many WNBA players and coaches have publicly advocated for.”
While attending the game, Kanter wore a shirt with what some have said was an offensive message. “WOMAN noun. adult human female,” the shirt said.
Sharpe Says Enes Kanter Just Wants His ’15 Minutes Of Fame’
The “Nightcap” co-hosts don’t seem entertained by Kanter and his antics, considering Sharpe said the 34-year-old was only doing this to cause trouble.
“People just want their 15 minutes of fame and are just gonna carry on and carry on. I don’t get it. Then you wear the t-shirt knowing [it will] enrage people. I don’t get his angle,” he stated.
After Kanter’s removal, the NBA player spoke with Fox News about the interaction and claimed Cloud made an inappropriate remark toward him. According to him, he began celebrating after Cunningham made a three-pointer. Following that, Cloud allegedly yelled at him, saying, “‘[Sophie’s] not gonna sleep with you.’”
“And I was like, ‘I am not trying to sleep with her. I’m just here to protect women and support her.’ And then, obviously, after that she started yapping, and she started to walk towards me, and literally I just got up, and then I was like, ‘I’m just here to protect women, and that’s all,’” Kanter said.
Kanter ‘Cannot Believe’ Cloud’s Reaction During WNBA Game
Kanter also said he was shocked and surprised by Cloud’s alleged vulgar language, noting that many minor children were at the game.
“She started to yell. She started to use some very heavy language. She started to actually cuss, and I was very shocked that there were a lot of kids and that there were a lot of teenagers at that game,” he said. “I just cannot believe that she was just cussing and using those F-bombs in front of all these kids. I’m sure she’s loved in Chicago, and many kids are idolizing her and stuff, but that’s not how a WNBA athlete should react.”
