Thunder center says efforts to accommodate his Muslim faith helped him feel welcome in OKC

Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter stands with the hosts of a welcome reception in his honor at the Oklahoma City home of Clayton and Marnie Taylor. Pictured, from left, are Ersin Demirci, director of the Dialogue Institute Oklahoma City, which coordinated the reception, Clayton Taylor, Marnie Taylor, Kanter, Becky Taylor and Clay Taylor. [Photo by Carla Hinton, The Oklahoman]

Arriving at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in February and donning a Thunder jersey for the first time, Enes Kanter felt at ease.

At his request, the Oklahoma City Thunder organization had prepared a prayer room at the downtown arena specifically for him — an observant Muslim whose Islamic faith calls for obligatory prayers five times a day.

The Thunder center talked about the Thunder's efforts to make him feel welcome during a recent reception held in his honor at the Oklahoma City home of Clayton and Marnie Taylor.

"They have really welcomed me here. The first thing the team did for me was they did a halal meal for me," Kanter said. Halal foods are foods that are allowed under Islamic dietary guidelines.