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Myles Turner still hasn’t been cleared to play for the Indiana Pacers

By Ben Gibson

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 18: Myles Turner #33 of the Indiana Pacers drives to the basket against the Brooklyn Nets on October 18, 2017 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 18: Myles Turner #33 of the Indiana Pacers drives to the basket against the Brooklyn Nets on October 18, 2017 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Myles Turner is still suffering from symptoms of his concussion. He has missed the Indiana Pacers’ last four games.

Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner is still out with a concussion. Needless to say, this isn’t good news for him or the Indiana Pacers.

We learned today he hasn’t made much progress as his status remains unchanged according to coach Nate McMillan.

Vigilant Sports’ Scott Agness was part of the media scrum after practice on Friday and is reporting Turner will miss at least 3-4 more days. If we translate that out to Indiana’s schedule, Turner will miss Sunday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs and maybe Oct. 31 against the Sacramento Kings.

What was an injury barely noticed on the floor is now one that has removed Turner from action for the last four games. Indiana is 1-3 in those games. Turner opened the season with 21 points, 14 rebounds, and 4 blocks against the Brooklyn Nets.

Basketball isn’t thought of a sport where concussions are common, but the NBA still takes them as seriously as the injury should be taken. That’s why Turner must clear the league’s concussion protocol before returning to action.

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A player must first be free of concussion-related symptoms while resting before they see a physician to clear them for exertion. After that, they go through various form of exercise — from a stationary bike, to jogging, to agility work, to non-contact team drills — and must remain symptom-free. Finally, they are cleared by the team’s doctor and the NBA.

Turner hasn’t got past the first step, but that arguably is the biggest one. It is tough to put a timeline on traumatic brain injuries like this because sometimes they can clear up within a day, but others take months before the person feels symptom-free.

That isn’t to scare-monger, that’s only to point out that dealing with concussions isn’t something that follows a tidy schedule. Turner might be fine tomorrow for all we know, but it best for him and the Pacers that he isn’t rushed back before he is ready.

If there is any benefit to the Pacers in this it is that we’re watching Domantas Sabonis show he was more than a throw-in on the biggest trade of the summer.

Next: Victor Oladipo 3.0

Here’s to hoping for Myles Turner’s return coming sooner rather than later.

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