Myles Turner surprised everyone by switching from the Indiana Pacers to the Milwaukee Bucks. After ten years with the franchise, the center decided to leave the current NBA finalist for a team that is going through a series of uncertainties during the
offseason
. The surprise was even greater after the rumors indicated that a renewal was practically certain with the former team. But there is still the fact that the two teams do not like each other.
Amidst the emotion, Turner spoke for the first time as a Bucks player. The veteran didn’t give many details about his decision to leave the Pacers. However, he assured that there were “alignment issues” between him and the Indiana management.
“It was from their side, regarding me. Out of respect for the Indiana franchise and the Bucks, I won’t elaborate on this. However, again, this was just the best decision for me moving forward and the best fit,” said Myles Turner.
The center spent his entire career in the NBA with the Pacers. He was the 11th pick of
Draft
from 2015 by the Indiana team. In the team, Myles Turner had an immediate success as a rookie and became one of the top names in his class in his debut year. Later, he solidified himself as a starter in the paint and even received votes for Defensive Player of the Year over the past seasons.
As the years passed, Turner also established himself as a leader with the Pacers. He saw various players come and go, until reaching the current core, with Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam. In this way, the veteran made friends and built a sort of family. Therefore, it was something he recognized had not been easy to leave.
“It was a difficult decision. I spent ten years of my life in one place. I arrived there still young. But when I stopped to evaluate where I am in my career, in life, what I wanted for myself, I started to see what the Bucks were building, so I got excited about the opportunity,” continued Turner.
Myles Turner arrives at a Bucks team that is very different from when the Pacers were. While Indiana reached the NBA Finals in 2025, the Milwaukee team has experienced three seasons with early eliminations in the playoffs.
playoffs
. The roster, therefore, went through changes, even with the release of star Damian Lillard during the
Offseason.
Turner, however, believes the Bucks have a chance to be a force in the NBA. According to the center, the expectations around the Milwaukee roster were part of the reason he decided to choose the team.
The Pacers, on the other hand, were sure he would stay for the next NBA season. Therefore, the team didn’t even pick a center in the Draft.
“Being in the NBA Finals was one of the greatest experiences of my life. You realize how hard it is to get there, how hard it is to win, how physically and mentally exhausting it is. It was one of the best experiences I’ve had. And everything that went into this decision was the desire to have that experience again. So, I saw a fit and an opportunity here that can give me that,” concluded Myles Turner.
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