Tyrese Haliburton has always been known for his poise, maturity, and leadership far beyond his years. But during a recent appearance on ESPN’s The Pat McAfee Show, the Indiana Pacers’ franchise point guard revealed a rare and raw side of himself. Sitting across from McAfee in a casual studio environment full of laughs and banter, Haliburton’s demeanor shifted noticeably when the topic turned to Myles Turner—the longtime anchor of Indiana’s defense and a fan favorite who recently departed in free agency. The moment was heartfelt, personal, and deeply revealing, shedding light on the emotional toll of roster turnover in the NBA and the depth of the bond Haliburton had with Turner.
The Indiana Pacers are a team on the rise. With Haliburton’s All-Star emergence and a mix of exciting young talent, the organization has found renewed hope. But for Haliburton, the team’s vision has always included Turner—his veteran teammate, mentor, and close friend. So when Myles Turner signed a major free agency deal with a rival team, the reality struck hard for Haliburton. Speaking to McAfee, Haliburton didn’t hold back. “It hurts, man. I’m not gonna sit here and pretend like it doesn’t. Myles wasn’t just a teammate. He was like a big brother,” he said, pausing and looking down briefly. “We built something together here. We had real conversations about what we wanted to accomplish in Indiana. So yeah, seeing him go was tough.”
The loss of Myles Turner isn’t just a matter of numbers, though the numbers are significant. A perennial top shot-blocker in the league, Turner has been the Pacers’ defensive cornerstone since he was drafted in 2015. His rim protection, floor-spacing, and veteran leadership made him one of the most unique and valuable bigs in the league. But to Haliburton, Turner represented much more. Their chemistry on the floor was palpable—pick-and-rolls, lobs, and defensive switches all executed with seamless precision. Off the court, they developed a brotherhood rooted in respect, competitiveness, and a shared vision of bringing the Pacers back to prominence.
Haliburton acknowledged that Turner’s decision wasn’t a betrayal—just the business of basketball. “You know, you get it. We all understand how free agency works. Myles has earned everything coming his way. He gave his all to this city for nine years. He’s gotta do what’s best for him and his family,” Haliburton said. But even as he tried to stay composed and professional, his voice cracked ever so slightly. “It’s just… you can’t replace a guy like that. Not just on the court, but in the locker room, in practice, in film sessions. He made everybody better.”
Throughout the interview, McAfee, a former NFL punter known for his high-energy personality and sharp humor, respectfully let Haliburton lead the moment. As the conversation grew more intimate, McAfee nodded, occasionally interjecting with praise for Turner and sympathy for Haliburton’s sense of loss. “That’s the part fans don’t always see,” McAfee said. “These are real relationships, real people, real bonds. It ain’t just a video game.”
Haliburton nodded in agreement. “Exactly. It’s deeper than basketball. When I got traded here, Myles was one of the first guys to welcome me with open arms. He didn’t have to. I was this young point guard, and he was already established. But he went out of his way to make me feel at home. That stuck with me. From day one, we had each other’s backs.”
What made the loss sting even more was that Haliburton believed the Pacers were just beginning to hit their stride. With last season’s surprising playoff run and a young, athletic core, optimism was high. Turner played a pivotal role in that success, anchoring the defense while knocking down big shots and mentoring players like Isaiah Jackson and Jalen Smith. Haliburton said that Turner’s presence gave the team confidence, stability, and swagger. “When you knew Myles was back there protecting the paint, you could be more aggressive on the perimeter. He let us play with freedom,” Haliburton explained. “And on offense, he stretched the floor in ways that a lot of bigs can’t. That space made my job easier.”
But Haliburton also acknowledged that now it’s time to look forward. Leadership means adapting, evolving, and rallying the team through adversity. “I’m not gonna sit here and mope,” he said. “We’re gonna miss him, no doubt. But we’ve got a locker room full of guys who are hungry and ready to step up. I believe in this team. I believe in our coaching staff. We’re gonna figure it out.”
Still, Haliburton’s honesty was a refreshing change in an era where athletes often shy away from emotional vulnerability. In talking about Turner, he wasn’t just mourning a teammate—he was mourning the end of a chapter, a shared dream, a version of the Pacers that now only lives in memory. And it was clear that Turner’s departure wasn’t just a headline or a stat-sheet subtraction to Haliburton. It was personal.
Haliburton also shared a story that particularly resonated with fans watching the interview. He recounted a night last season when he was battling a nagging knee injury and wasn’t sure he could play. It was Turner who pulled him aside in the locker room and delivered a message that stuck with him. “He just looked me dead in the eye and said, ‘We need you. You’re the engine, man. You go, we go.’ That meant everything. That night, I taped it up and went out there because I didn’t want to let him down.” It’s those moments, Haliburton said, that define who Turner is—not just a shot-blocker, but a leader, a motivator, and a brother.
The Pacers organization has yet to publicly name a replacement for Turner’s role, though there’s buzz about possible trade targets and increased minutes for younger bigs. Haliburton expressed confidence in the front office’s ability to build around the current core. “I know they’re working. I talk to the front office all the time. We’re all aligned. They’ve done a great job bringing in guys who want to win. We just gotta keep the momentum going.”
Yet, even with that optimism, there was no denying the shadow Turner’s absence would cast on the upcoming season. Haliburton knows that leadership isn’t just about assists and points—it’s about setting a tone, being a voice, and filling emotional voids left by veterans who helped shape the culture. “I learned a lot from Myles,” Haliburton said quietly. “Now it’s on me to pass that forward. That’s what he’d want.”
As the interview wound down, McAfee praised Haliburton’s composure and passion, telling viewers that what they’d just witnessed was rare: a superstar in the making who hasn’t lost touch with the human side of the game. Social media echoed the sentiment, with fans and analysts lauding Haliburton’s transparency and calling the segment “the most heartfelt NBA moment of the offseason.”
In the cold mechanics of free agency, players come and go. Contracts expire, money talks, and decisions get made. But what’s often overlooked is the emotional toll—the pain of parting ways with someone who’s been in your corner every day, someone who helped build the culture, who believed in the same goals. Haliburton reminded the basketball world that these relationships matter. And in doing so, he reminded Indiana that their future is in good hands—not just because he can lead a fast break, but because he understands the weight of leadership when the lights are off and the locker room is quiet.
As Pacers fans brace for a new era without Myles Turner, one thing is clear: Tyrese Haliburton won’t let that legacy fade quietly. He’ll carry it forward with heart, pride, and purpose—just like Turner taught him. And in that sense, the bond endures.
