Myles Turner said on the Ball in the Family podcast that his first experience as an unrestricted free agent reshaped the way he views the NBA’s business structure.
He explained, via HoopsHype, that he had “never been an unrestricted free agent” and had “always done contract extensions in Indiana,” noting that this summer gave him “a real taste of the business side of things.”
Turner said, “I thought I was destined to retire in Indiana, you know?” while describing how this offseason changed his understanding of how front offices operate.
His comments follow a summer in which his nine-year run with the Pacers ended after a trip to the 2025 NBA Finals. Indiana pushed the Oklahoma City Thunder to seven games before falling short, with Turner anchoring the paint throughout the postseason.
On July 7, he signed a four-year, $108.9 million contract with the Milwaukee Bucks, marking his first move to a new franchise since entering the league in 2015.
His tenure in Indiana included 631 starts across 664 games and career averages of 14.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks while shooting 49.7 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from three.
Turner developed into one of the league’s most consistent interior defenders, providing rim protection that shaped multiple Pacers defensive schemes across a decade.
His final full season in Indiana featured 72 appearances with 15.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 39.6 percent from deep.
In Milwaukee, Turner has stepped into a starting role on a roster centered around Giannis Antetokounmpo’s scoring load.
Through his first 22 games with the Bucks, he is averaging 12.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in 29.5 minutes while giving Milwaukee needed spacing from the center position.
He joins a frontcourt group that includes Bobby Portis and Kyle Kuzma, providing depth around Antetokounmpo during a 9-13 start to the 2025–26 season.
Turner said on the podcast that he plans to “go where God allows me to go and keep pushing,” emphasizing that his focus is on longevity as he enters his 11th year in the league.
He expressed hope of playing into his 20 seasons and continuing to build on the work that carried him from Indiana lottery pick to long-term NBA starter.
