Enes Kanter will be playing on Tuesday night against the Denver Nuggets and beyond while observing Ramadan, and that can present some obvious challenges for a professional athlete. One Hall of Famer who is more than familiar with that is Hakeem Olajuwon, and he was happy to offer Kanter some advice recently.
Kanter, who plans to fast from sunrise until sunset from now until Ramadan ends on June 4, told reporters on Tuesday that he texted Olajuwon for some feedback about the best way to handle it.
Enes Kanter said he texted with Hakeem Olajuwon for some tips on playing while fasting for Ramadan: pic.twitter.com/i5e0HoEt2R
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“He gave me some tips like what he was eating, when he would wake up at like 4 in the morning, how much water he was drinking and stuff. … It’s awesome just to get help from a legend,” Kanter said. “I’d love to be the new Hakeem for the younger generation.”
Olajuwon famously played some of his best games while fasting during Ramadan. As part of a feature Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated wrote over a year ago entitled “Being Muslim in the NBA,” Olajuwon said he always felt more energy when he was fasting.
“As for fasting, it is a spiritual mindset that gives you the stamina required to play,” the two-time NBA Finals MVP said. “Through Allah’s mercy, I always felt stronger and more energetic during Ramadan.”
Kanter said the city of Denver is breaking its fast at 8:06 on Tuesday night, so he will be able to eat and drink water during the game if he needs to since tip-off is at 8:30. He joked that he might have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on the bench during a timeout.
While he is already battling some difficult circumstances on the court, Kanter said it is important for the younger generation to see his commitment to the Islam religion. He said he actually works harder during Ramadan because his body is used to it.
Kanter has played a major role against the Nuggets thus far, averaging 16.0 points and 10.3 rebounds through four games.
