- Pacers center says most fans see him as “property”
- Turner calls out social media users who constantly talk trash
- Players are just “entertainment props” to the fans, says Turner
Speaking on the ‘Tidal League’ podcast, NBA big man Myles Turner had a lot to say on NBA culture and how the fans interact with the players. According to him, there are too many fans out there who see athletes as an “entertainment prop” instead an actual human being.
“Social media has done wonders for the game but it’s also f–ked the game up a little bit too,” said Turner. “People don’t view us as people, we’re property. You are entertainment props and that is that. You get paid millions of dollars, shut up. That’s kind of how the casual fan views us.”
NBA discourse has changed a lot over the years, but it seems like the basketball scene has gotten more toxic than ever when it comes to criticism, hate, and harassment from unhappy fans. Myles Turner found out the hard way how tough people can be during his stint with the Indiana Pacers when fans kept bombarding him with their own ideas and opinions on how he should have been playing. Sadly, this reality is all too common in the NBA today and it’s hard not to blame the explosion of social media for bringing out the worst in people.
Social Media Is A Challenge For Modern NBA Players
While platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram give athletes a personal way to connect with their fans, it also gives the haters a direct line to their victim. While some players are experts at ignoring the noise (LeBron James and Stephen Curry), others, like Kevin Durant, can’t help themselves but respond in self-defense.
Of course, that’s not to mention the countless media outlets that take away even the most basic forms of privacy from the stars and their families. “For LeBron, it’s basically wake up, pick up your phone, and you’re right there,” said NBA veteran Eddie Johnson on the challenges of the modern NBA. “Yes, he is definitely living in an era where people are more critical and half the people that are criticizing him don’t know jack s— about basketball.”
It’ll be interesting to see how the situation changes over the next few years, but the relationship between fans and players is no doubt a growing problem in the NBA that needs to be addressed.
Players Are Fighting Back Against The ‘Shut Up And Dribble’ Movement
In recent years, fans and even some public figures have gone on record to condemn athletes for speaking out and inserting their own personal opinions into the sport. And while most players do their best to stay out of trouble, many NBA athletes actively use their platform to promote their values and it can turn the discourse toxic at times.
Regardless, the NBA “brotherhood” is always looking out for its own and they have been battling hard to quell the unwarranted hate and criticism that so often comes their way. In the case of Myles Turner, he got the worst of it after signing a massive contract extension with the Pacers, but he hasn’t let the negativity affect his life so far.
In the future, as the fans explore more and more ways to interact with their favorite players, the NBA will really have to really think twice about how they can minimize some of the hate speech that floods their feed. In the meantime, guys like Turner will keep reminding the people that he’s more than an athlete.
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