Myles Turner has never been an All-Star or All-Defensive player, but he has been one of the best shot-blockers and floor-spacing centers over his ten-year career.

He will be an unrestrived free agent this summer and this year’s postseason run could be his last hurrah with the Indiana Pacers, the only team he has ever played on, but no one is focused on that right now. There’s still a job to do, and the Pacers have their eyes set on winning the NBA Finals.

In four games against the Milwaukee Bucks this season, Turner is averaging below-average points per game and 3-point percentage, but the Pacers know he opens the game up for the rest of them even on an off night.

“On both sides of the ball, he’s huge,” praised Aaron Nesmith. “Being able to pick, pop, and make threes at a 40 percent clip. I think he was second in the league in blocks this year. It’s huge what he does for us and the impact he has on the game.”

From Turner, Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, and Evan Mobley, floor-spacing bigs are some of the most versatile players in the league, and the Pacers know it. 

“Stretch fives are very, very valuable in today’s game, that’s obvious,” said Rick Carlisle. “I mean, Milwaukee’s got a great one. They have two, really, with Lopez and Portis. And, you know, Myles and Thomas fill those positions for us. And Myles is special for a lot of reasons. His loyalty to the franchise has been a big part of that on the court. He does things that are unique for a seven-foot guy. He protects the rim and he makes 3s, along with doing a lot of other important things. So he’s a very important guy with our team.”

Even if Turner isn’t firing in the first game, he creates space for Haliburton to work, and brings would-be shot blockers out of the paint, clearing a lane for Pascal Siakam, Bennedict Mathurin, or Andrew Nembhard.

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