Myles Turner continues to be a franchise building block in Indiana. Drafted in 2015, the 22-year-old is averaging nearly 13 points, seven rebounds and two blocks per game in his three-plus seasons with the Pacers.
His status as a franchise centerpiece has exposed him to the rapid-moving nature of the NBA business, which annually involves frequent roster turnover for teams across the league.
Turner and some of his Pacer teammates recently spoke to Jim Ayello of The Indianapolis Star in the wake of Paul George's impending return to Indiana as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder:
Growing up, Turner had always heard the NBA was a business, that rosters can churn through players quickly, but there’s no denying the reality check that hits when he looks around and doesn't see a single face from his rookie season.
“It was definitely a shock,” the 22-year-old Turner said of the roster turnover after practice Wednesday at St. Vincent Center. “You always hear about it, but to see it actually happen around you, it’s — yeah, it’s different.”
Turner has developed as a menacing rim protector this season, and he currently leads the NBA in blocks (2.9) per game while adding 13.1 points and seven rebounds for a Pacer team that is currently fourth in the Eastern Conference.
Although Turner has already seen numerous teammates come and go in less than four full seasons, he acknowledged that experiencing this part of the NBA industry helped him adapt and grow accustomed to life in the league.
The Pacers are currently trying to keep pace with the Philadelphia 76ers in the race for a top-three spot in the Eastern Conference. The teams entered Thursday tied in the standings at 43-25, with the Sixers owning the tiebreaker at this point in time.
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