Myles Turner has long been one of the NBA’s most underrated big men—an unflashy, unselfish, but quietly impactful force for the Indiana Pacers. For nearly a decade, he’s been a foundational pillar of the franchise, anchoring the defense with poise and protecting the paint with elite timing. Each season, Turner has been the guy who does his job without much need for the spotlight, content to fill in the gaps while others got the headlines. But in this present moment, as the Pacers look to take the next leap forward, the expectation is changing. What once was viewed as consistency is now being asked to evolve into dominance. And for the first time in his career, all signs point to Turner being ready to take over—on both ends of the floor.
The Pacers’ identity has been reshaped in recent years. With Tyrese Haliburton now emerging as the face of the franchise and a renewed push for contention evident through key roster moves and a revitalized culture, Indiana is no longer a team simply content with development. The time for potential has passed. And for Turner, that means stepping into a role that demands not just stability, but a commanding presence. At 28, Turner is now in the prime of his career—not too young to be inconsistent, not too old to rely on past promise. The league is filled with versatile bigs, but Turner brings a rare blend of shot-blocking, floor spacing, and switchable defense. The Pacers are no longer asking him to simply be reliable; they’re asking him to be great.
Over the past few seasons, Turner has already shown flashes of what he can become when fully unleashed. He’s averaged over 2 blocks per game for most of his career and led the league in that category multiple times. But in 2022–23 and again in 2023–24, we started to see a more aggressive version of him offensively. He expanded his range, became more confident in face-up situations, and began to assert himself as a viable secondary scorer. While Haliburton rightly garners attention as the team’s engine, Turner is becoming the axle—the player who keeps the structure intact on both sides. What makes this leap so intriguing isn’t just the stats, but the timing. His growth isn’t happening in isolation; it’s happening in tandem with Indiana’s rise.
Defensively, Turner has always been elite, but now he’s embracing a more vocal, authoritative role. It’s no longer just about help-side blocks and silent rotations. He’s calling out coverages, directing teammates, and setting the tone with physicality. That leadership on the defensive end is invaluable, especially for a team filled with young talent still learning how to win at a high level. His ability to guard in drop coverage, switch onto smaller guards, and protect the rim without fouling makes him one of the most versatile centers in the league. But more importantly, it gives the Pacers a backbone—something they’ve desperately needed to stabilize their defensive metrics.
