Oklahoma City’s Enes Kanter is Muslim and observes the dietary laws of his religion, which includes consuming meals that are cooked under halal standards. Since arriving to the Thunder in a trade last year, the team has accommodated him with a separate prayer room and team chefs use separate cookware.
So after games, when most athletes are eating pizza and nutrition shakes, Kanter is all about the halal food. In the sports world, religion or sexual orientation or anything that can make one seem the slightest bit different can be frowned upon; but in this case, the Thunder went another way, as Kanter’s teammates have become addicted to halal food, according to this neat story in the Wall Street Journal.
Thunder teammate Steven Adams began adding halal to his postgame meal routine.
After their most recent game against San Antonio, Kanter and Adams did what they always do: They devoured the delivery from a local Turkish restaurant. The team ordered that night for at least six people — and not just people, but large people who just played an NBA game — because the Thunder have come to understand they won’t be going home with doggie bags.
“I’m not going to lie,” said David Howarth, the performance coach. “If there’s some lamb leftover, I’m eating that lamb.”
Which city has the best halal?
“What’s our best city?” Adams said. “Orlando?”
“Boston?” Kanter said.
“Boston was good, wasn’t it?” Adams said. “Boston was the best city. I don’t know the top five, but Boston was definitely No. 1.”
This really shouldn’t be surprising. Sure, maybe it’s scary to hear about a food that must be eaten for religious purposes and think it’s bland or gross, but there’s chicken and lamb and rice and vegetables and the spices are just so good. Everyone loves a combo meal from a fast-food joint, but live a little. Go to your local halal cart and get some kebabs.
Don’t be like Kevin Durant.
“It’s nasty to me,” he said.
And that’s from a guy with his own restaurant in Oklahoma City that sells fried chicken livers, so maybe he’s not the best judge of good food.
(Via Wall Street Journal)
