Kanter apologizes for encouraging 'fight' after warning from Knicks

Enes Kanter's words continue to get him into trouble.

The New York Knicks center said he was warned by the team after openly encouraging his teammates to pick a fight with Portland players on Monday.

"The front office told me I cannot say stuff like that," Kanter admitted Tuesday, as quoted by New York Daily News' Stefan Bondy.

The Turkish big man suggested it could've been a misunderstanding, and apologized.

"It's a learning process," he said. "This is my second language. When I say fight it means compete, play hard, compete. You get a tech; you get a tech. They told me I cannot say stuff like that. I'm sorry about that. I'm sorry NBA, my fault."

Related: LeBron gets into scuffle with Kanter, who 'always got something to say'

Kanter told reporters after Monday's loss to the Trail Blazers that he'd egged on a couple of his teammates to fight someone during the game with the Knicks needing a boost. The big man, who was sitting out his third straight contest with back spasms, even offered to pay his teammates' fines if they were penalized.

Michael Beasley and Frank Ntilikina proceeded to get into a shoving match with Jusuf Nurkic, and were hit with a tech apiece - presumably on Kanter's dime.

New York is winless without Kanter, who's listed as probable for Wednesday's game against the Miami Heat.

The 25-year-old is averaging 13.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.4 dimes in 17 games for the 10-10 Knicks.