Milwaukee Bucks big man Myles Turner spent the first 10 seasons of his NBA career with the Indiana Pacers, but he is making it more and more apparent that he doesn’t have much love for the fanbase. On the Bucks’ media day, Turner was asked what he was most excited about with this new opportunity, and had a very interesting response.
“One thing I’m doing now is embracing change,” Turner said. “Embracing this cool part of my career. I’m heading into my prime, 29 years old, going into my 11th season. I’m in a city now that wants to celebrate me… There’s a great quote that says, ‘Go where you’re celebrated.’ And I feel that’s here.”
Those are some shots fired at Pacers fans. Turner doesn’t seem to believe that the fanbase celebrated him enough during his 10-year run in Indiana. The 29-year-old had also found his name in trade rumors for much of his career and decided to take matters into his own hands this offseason.
Turner signed a four-year, $107 million deal with the Bucks after they waived Damian Lillard and stretched the remainder of his contract. It was a stunning move, and even the Pacers didn’t seem to see it coming.
Pacers’ president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard stated the team was blindsided by Turner’s decision. Pritchard stated they were deep in negotiations with the big man and that the ownership was willing to go deep into the tax to pay him.
The Athletic reported, though, that the Pacers’ best offer for Turner topped out at about $23 million a year. He wanted close to $27 million a year and chose to jump ship when the Bucks put their offer on the table. The decision stung Pacers fans for multiple reasons.
Turner’s leaving was bad enough, but he was going to a Bucks team with which the Pacers had formed a rivalry. While the teams aren’t mortal enemies, there is a bit of bad blood there. The Pacers beat the Bucks in the semifinals of the in-season tournament in 2023 and then in the first round of the playoffs in 2024 and 2025.
Turner, who averaged 14.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.7 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game over his 10 seasons with the Pacers, was also leaving the team right after Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The fans would have expected him to lead the team in Haliburton’s absence, but he chose to head out of town.
Myles Turner Fired A Shot At Pacers Fans During Summer League
This isn’t the first time that Turner has taken a dig at Pacers fans since leaving. When he had sat down for a chat on NBA TV during Summer League, he was asked what kind of reception he expected in his first game back in Indiana.
“I don’t know what to expect, I really don’t. I think it’s gonna be half-and-half, Turner said. “Even my time there (in Indy), there were a lot of people who wanted me to be off the team, and now they got what they wanted, and now they’re complaining still.”
It is clear that Turner thinks he wasn’t appreciated enough by Pacers fans. He is now enjoying all the love he has gotten from the Bucks fans, and it will be interesting to see how he fares in Milwaukee.
Turner is now Giannis Antetokounmpo’s co-star, and a lot is expected of him. He should improve the Bucks defensively, but might have to contribute more on the offensive end than he has for much of his career.
