Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner was not pleased after being snubbed from both of the All-Defensive teams after the league released the results of the voting.
Reigning Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz garnered 97 first-place votes and the closest to an unanimous vote to make the team, while Joel Embiid totaled 80 points to crack his second straight mention to the second team:
Blatant Disrespect
But It’s All Good Real 1’s Know What’s Up— Myles Turner (@Original_Turner) May 22, 2019
Sadly enough, there are only two spots at the center position, and Turner was going against two defensive stalwarts in The Stifle Tower and The Process, two henchmen who protect the rim with reckless abandon.
Turner led the league in blocked shots, averaging 2.69 rejections per game this season and coming one short of 200 swats for the 2018-19 season.
Pacers president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard supported his young center, as it's likely disappointing to come up short in such a tight race as one of the best defensive centers in the league:
We know Myles!
— Kevin Pritchard (@PacersKev) May 22, 2019
The center position is likely the toughest to be in when it comes to All-Defensive teams, as only two players can get selected and Turner ultimately fell victim to two prominent big dippers with a long-standing reputation for altering shots.
Gobert and Embiid both pulled down double-digit rebounds on a nightly basis and ranked among the top five in rebounding this season, which was likely one area that hurt Turner in terms of comparison.
In order to crack through that ceiling, Myles Turner must become a force on the boards in the future as well as continue his masterful shot-blocking barrage next season.
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