Pacers’ Myles Turner Believes He’s A Top Five Center In NBA

In 62 games for the Pacers last season, Turner averaged 18.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 2.3 blocks while shooting 54.8% from the field, 37.3% from beyond the arc and 78.3% from the free-throw line. The 27-year-old recorded 18 double-doubles and was fifth in the NBA in total blocks and sixth in blocks per game.

Turner will make $20.9 million this season. He signed a two-year, $58 million extension with the Pacers in January 2023. The two-time blocks champion has career averages of 13.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 2.3 blocks. Turner has never made an All-Star team or All-NBA team. He has surprisingly never made an All-Defensive team either, but Turner believes he’ll be an All-Star this season.

“I’m excited for the All-Star Game obviously,” Turner said on Theo Pinson’s podcast. “That’s gonna be in Indiana this year. Y’all gonna see me there by the way. You heard it here first. But having that come to the city and having the league itself all come to show love to Indy, that’s gonna be dope. I think it’s a city that really deserves it. We were about to have the All-Star Game in 2020, then COVID happened. That’s the reason why it got bumped up to this year.”

The Pacers, who missed the playoffs last season, are expected to start Tyrese Haliburton, Bruce Brown, Bennedict Mathurin, Obi Toppin and Turner.