Boston Celtics player Enes Kanter said he is changing his last name to "Freedom."

The name change is also meant to celebrate him becoming a U.S. citizen. Kanter said his current last name, Kanter, will become his middle name, noting the move was partly inspired by a nickname from his teammates.

NBA PLAYER ENES KANTER ANNOUNCES HE PASSED US CITIZENSHIP TEST

"Freedom is the greatest thing a human being can have, so that's why I wanted to make that word a part of me and carry it wherever I go," he said in an interview with CNN.

Kanter will debut his new last name on his uniform Wednesday when the Boston Celtics play the Philadelphia 76ers.

Last week, Kanter told Fox News he passed his citizenship test and was set to be sworn in as a citizen by the end of the month. He was sworn in Monday.

His new last name aligns with his public activism, as Kanter has been an outspoken critic of Turkey and China over human rights issues.

Kanter's criticisms of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan resulted in the Turkish government revoking his passport. He also accused his native country of imprisoning his father for years on trumped-up charges just because they are related.

On Nov. 20, Kanter wrote an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal calling for the 2022 Winter Olympics to be moved out of Beijing. He has also criticized the Chinese Communist Party for its policies toward the Uyghur population in Xinjiang.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Kanter previously said his criticism of China had drawn some pushback from high-ranking officials in the NBA but said in an interview with CNN his teammates have been very supportive.

"Their support gives me so much hope and motivation to fight for what's right," he said.