US President Donald Trump made an unusual promise involving former NBA stars Dennis Rodman and Enes Kanter Freedom during a rally in Durant, Oklahoma.
As reported by İdman.Biz, citing Mediaite, both former basketball players were in attendance when Trump addressed his supporters.
Trump first praised Rodman, a five-time NBA champion, before saying that both former players had an "exemption."
"I'm giving them a full pardon that they can go into women's sports anytime they want," Trump said.
The US president added that he believed Rodman and Kanter Freedom would "break every record in the history of women's sports" if they were allowed to compete, despite their age.
Rodman, 65, ended his NBA career in 2000. The five-time league champion has never publicly expressed an intention to play in the WNBA. He previously claimed to have played a role in helping facilitate the historic 2018 meeting between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Kanter Freedom, meanwhile, announced in August that he intended to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft as part of his campaign criticizing the league's approach to transgender athlete eligibility.
However, reports citing league sources subsequently stated that Kanter Freedom is not eligible for the 2027 WNBA Draft. Trump's remarks do not alter his eligibility, which is determined under the WNBA's rules and collective bargaining framework.
