Hoops, fellowship and Ramadan: How Enes Kanter and Mahmoud Abdelfattah use basketball to teach about -

On May 2, with two minutes remaining in the first half, and the Houston Rockets down double-digits to the New York Knicks, Mahmoud Abdelfattah broke his fast.

Sunset arrived at 7:58 p.m. CST. And during a timeout, he drank bottled water and ate a handful of dates. Ordinarily, Abdelfattah also has granola and fruits under his seat in the second row of the Rockets’ bench.

Meanwhile in Boston, the Celtics played the Portland Trail Blazers that same evening. This game featured five Muslim NBA players: Enes Kanter, Jusuf Nurkic, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Tacko Fall and Jaylen Brown. Sunset arrived at 7:46 p.m. EST, and after tip-off, these players broke their fast. Some players, including Kanter, waited until halftime to eat a larger meal.

This is how Muslim coaches, players, and personnel integrate their faith and culture into their roles and responsibilities in the NBA during Ramadan, the holy month when Prophet Muhammad received the first revelation of the Qur’an, described by Muslim scholars as a guide to humankind. During this month, Muslims participate in fasting, a practice and ritual that predates Islam and has been described in the Qur’an to make believers God-fearing.

Fasting is not only about abstaining from food and water from before dawn to sunset but also indulging in the process of self-reflection and fasting from bad vices, bad deeds and bad influences. The deeper purpose of fasting is to reinforce the spiritual and moral character of Muslims, allowing them to live with a stronger sense of purpose, balance and self-restraint for the entirety of the year.

But for Abdelfattah and Kanter, being Muslim concerns far more than the month of Ramadan. Their faith informs the men they’ve become both on and off the court.

When the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and the Rockets hired Abdelfattah as their G-League head coach before the 2019-2020 season, he made history as the first Palestinian and Muslim head coach in NBA or G-League history.

A few months before he was hired, Abdelfattah went to Hajj. During Dhua al-Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic calendar, millions of Muslims make the journey to the holy city of Mecca to take part in the annual pilgrimage. Hajj is one of the pillars of Islam and an act that Muslims make once in their life if they are physically able or can afford to do so.

Shortly after returning from Hajj, Abdelfattah found out he would be promoted from assistant to head coach.

It was the latest, most consequential step in a career that had largely been spent in Division II college basketball as a player and then assistant coach at St. Cloud State. Abdelfattah credits much of that journey to his faith.

“(Islam) has shaped who I am as an individual,” Abdelfattah said. “Islam means surrender and submit yourself to God. Nothing will happen without God’s will, whether we may think it’s good or bad. Only God knows what the future holds. We may think something that happens in the present is negative, but God knows there is something better that will happen down the road. Just submit yourself to Allah and understand that there’s something bigger than us and that God has a plan for us. Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala.”

Abdelfattah has fully assimilated his religious ethics, values and way of living into his identity as a basketball coach. During the season, players and coaches can often find Abdelfattah awake at 4 a.m., starting his day with prayer, breakfast, and morning workouts. His friends and colleagues are well versed in “Knowledge Fridays,” in which he also sends text messages discussing various lessons and topics of his faith to better inform them about Islam.

During Ramadan, Abdelfattah makes slight changes to his daily schedule and routine to highlight the importance of prayer and remembrance. For him, Ramadan is like a New Year’s resolution. It is an opportunity to cleanse himself of all vices.

“The more reading of the Qur’an that you do (during Ramadan), the more multiplied (the blessings of) this action is,” Abdelfattah said. “The biggest thing is refraining yourself. It can be anything from gambling, to smoking, to cursing, to lying, or even talking behind someone’s back.”

He finds himself having more time and energy to do tasks than in other months.

“When you do those types of (negative) things, you realize how much time those negative things were taking away from your life,” Abdelfattah said on his change in perspective during Ramadan. “When you negate those negative aspects and characteristics, you have more time to do things that are productive, and that will make you more successful in life.”

Photo: Christian Inoferio/NBAE via Getty Images

For Abdelfattah, Ramadan has also become an opportunity to teach himself discipline. In his mind, if he can teach himself to function without basic needs like food and water, it only follows that he can better weed out superfluous bad habits.

“I have a handful of Muslim friends that have done it with me for the last four to five years,” Abdelfattah said. “The more they do it, the more they realize it is more than food and water you discipline yourself from.”

In the Rockets organization, Abdelfattah is joined by assistant coach DeSagana Diop as another Muslim who he can spend time with during the NBA season and Ramadan. Abdelfattah and Diop are often seen together praying in the video room before coaches’ meetings, going to morning and evening prayer and fasting during Ramadan. Other members of the coaching staff and team have joined Diop and Abdelfattah to fast for either one day or during the entire month.

“I’m so interested in what they’re doing because their faith is so steadfast,” Rockets head coach Stephen Silas said about Abdelfattah and Diop. “To see two guys sacrificing and praying and finding corners in locker rooms on the road to pray. Mahmoud has told me it’s so gratifying to be able to do it, and looking at it from that lens is something I admire and something I can learn from.”

Prayer time was quickly approaching in the late afternoon, and so was tip-off for Kanter. He was unable to spot an open, quiet area near his locker. Adjacent to the locker room, however, was the steam room. This would suffice: Kanter went into the steam room, placed a towel on the floor and prayed before the start of the game.

This was not uncommon for Kanter. He’s spent many days in his basketball career praying in unusual areas and rooms. However, he’s found that the more he’s spoken about being Muslim, the more accepting and accommodating his teammates, coaches and team personnel often become.

This was best exemplified in his three seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder. At first, team chairman Clay Bennett allowed Kanter to use ownership offices at the practice facility and arena to pray. Eventually, team staff created a prayer room at both the practice facility and Chesapeake Energy Arena. “When I was leaving the room, they would always ask if I prayed for them, too,” Kanter said.

Kanter is now seen as a hallmark voice for Muslim athletes in the NBA and other major sports leagues. He says this responsibility began after a conversation with Hakeem Olajuwon, one of the most influential Muslims athletes and people in the world, early in his career. Kanter picked Olajuwon’s brain for tips on eating, drinking and fasting effectively during Ramadan to maintain success on the court. The Hall of Famer shared he would only eat oatmeal and dates, and drink water, which motivated Kanter to remain even more committed throughout Ramadan. “The more challenging it is, the more rewarding it will be,” Olajuwon told him.

During Ramadan, Kanter eats cereal, fruit and yogurt in the mornings, and breaks his fast with dates and water as an homage to Olajuwon. And throughout his career, teams Kanter has played on will often provide halal meals for him and his teammates. During Kanter’s time with Oklahoma City, the team would provide halal food for everyone in the organization during Ramadan. Even with the New York Knicks, members of the staff would bring large trays of halal Turkish food, with players and coaches eating together using forks and hands. Conversations with his teammates, particularly during Ramadan, revolve around common questions about halal food customs, prayer rituals, the connection to Jesus and Christianity and fasting.

“When I first talk to my teammates, I share that I eat halal food and that I cannot just eat normal stuff,” Kanter said. “I don’t drink alcohol and don’t eat pork. My teammates always respected me. When I talk to them about these topics, they have a lot of questions, but (they) are always very respectful and make me feel comfortable.”

After playing for five teams over 10 seasons, Kanter has had many conversations about his faith with multiple teammates and coaches. He says players and nonplaying personnel alike have spoken with Kanter about the process of becoming Muslim and converting to Islam.

“I think being Muslim is about patience, humanity, love, forgiveness, kindness and remembrance of Allah,” Kanter said of what he shares with those interested in converting to Islam. “My faith is everything to me. It gives me a lot of discipline and drives me to play harder. (As a Muslim NBA player), I am not just representing my family and my country, but also my faith. It’s a huge responsibility on your shoulders. Being Muslim is about respect and trying to bring peace and love to the world.”

For Kanter, Ramadan is a yearly reflection point when he can focus on bettering himself as both a player and person. “Ramadan is about relaxing your body, your soul, and focusing on your inner peace and empathy for others,” Kanter said.

“As-Salaam-Alaikum.”

Abdelfattah and Kanter greeted each other at the Moda Center before the Rockets faced the Trail Blazers. The greeting means “peace be with you,” and is a common formal greeting within most Muslim communities.

A lengthy embrace between two ambassadors and prominent voices of the Muslim NBA community. They discussed Eid ul-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan and is an occasion of peace, happiness, joy and festivity for friends and families. Kanter and his Muslim teammates will be in Salt Lake City on Thursday and will take part in prayers at a local mosque. Abdelfattah will be in Houston and will participate in prayers at his neighborhood masjid.

Photo: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Although in different NBA roles, both believe they have the responsibility and opportunity to showcase and promote the religion within their respective positions.

For Abdelfattah, this comes with daily participation and practice in prayer and interfaith conversations. Most members of the Vipers and Rockets organizations know more about Islam than they did before Abdelfattah joined in 2017.

“Some people feel like they offend me, but there is no wrong question at all,” Abdelfattah said about informing and educating others about Islam. “I’m glad that people want to know. That’s the way society and everyone grows. By understanding people’s religions, cultures and lifestyles. You have got to be able to ask difficult questions. Just ask; we will not be offended, but grateful.”

For Kanter, he strives to play four or five more seasons in the NBA, and use this time to make himself, his NBA peers, and future NBA players comfortable about their religious identity.

“My goal is when I finish my career, Muslim players, coaches, and employees that come after me will feel very secure and comfortable about (practicing) their religion,” Kanter said. “I want them to live free and live their religion in a comfortable way. I have actually been reaching out to Muslim athletes around the NBA and other sports leagues to see what we can do to bring more awareness.”

Kanter shares that he hopes to start a podcast in the future to discuss being Muslim in the NBA and have guests from various sports and fields.

But no matter where their careers take them, both Kanter and Abdelfattah understand the influence they hold among Muslim youth, particularly in the United States.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Kanter was involved with various in-person basketball camps at local Muslim community centers and mosques. Kanter spent time with participants to discuss the importance of respecting their religion and having confidence in themselves. He would tell them not to be afraid to be different, and that those differences are things to be proud of. He encouraged them to educate themselves about their faith “because you will get a lot of questions.”

More than anything, Kanter hoped to impart the same lesson he learned during the early part of his career: remain true to your own ethics.

“You do not have to sacrifice your morals and values that you have,” Kanter says. “Be confident about your religion. Islam is something beautiful.”

(Top photo: Cooper Neill, Sam Forencich/ Getty;STR/AFP)

To get more stories like this delivered to your feed, follow our Culture vertical: theathletic.com/culture

ncG1vNJzZmismJqutbTLnquim16YvK57kW5vam5lbnxzfJFqZmltX2aAcLTOqKesZZaaua271qyfoqhdlruledGapJqckaN6qbvWZpynnaNiuKK6056pZpmemXqurcempq6cXZavpbHLn5itrJGdera%2FxGaZmqubmsGjrculZK2nXamyoq%2FHZpibp6Wpeqq%2Fy5qkaA%3D%3D