Pacers big man Myles Turner shares goal to join elite nine-man club

While the Indiana Pacers may have missed out on the playoffs last season, it was a great year. Not only did they establish Tyrese Haliburton as the face of the franchise, but they also got to take a look at some complementary talent, including Myles Turner.

Rookie Andrew Nembhard thrived in his role, Aaron Nesmith was impactful during his first season in the blue and gold, and sixth-overall pick Bennedict Mathurin emerged as a serious scoring threat, especially off the bench.

But outside of Haliburton, the biggest positive from this past year was the Turner situation. After years of trade rumors and rumblings that the team could move him, Indiana extended the big man amidst a career year.

Indiana Pacers big man Myles Turner says he wants to join 50-40-90 club next season

Turner played extremely well this past season, and during an appearance on the “Setting the Pace” podcast, he talked about one of his major goals heading into next year.

When asked about what he’s working on this summer, the Pacers big man stated that he hopes to be a 50-40-90 player next season. (H/t Tony East of All Pacers)

“Working on multiple things. Obviously, still improving my shot. Get my numbers up there. I really strive to be like a 50-40-90 guy,” Turner said. “I think it’s possible… A lofty goal at that, but something I know I’m capable of doing.”

For context, only 10 other NBA players have ever recorded a 50-40-90 season, which happens when someone shoots 50% from the field, 40% from three-point range, and 90% from the free-throw line over the course of a single season.

The players who have accomplished said feat are Larry Bird (x2), Mark Price, Reggie Miller, Steve Nash (x4), Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Durant (x2), Stephen Curry, Malcolm Brogdon, and Kyrie Irving.

Needless to say, if Turner were to join the club, it would be a monumental accomplishment.

Turner holds career averages of 54.8% shooting from the floor, 37.3% shooting from distance, and 78.3% shooting from the free-throw line. The big man has shot over 50% from the field in just three of his eight years in the NBA and has not reached either of the other two marks at any point in a single season.

The best season Turner has had from three-point range was in the 2018-19 season when he shot 38.8%, and the closest he’s gotten to shooting 90% from the line was in 2016-17 when he shot 80.9%.

Coming off the best season of his career, Turner is clearly looking to capitalize. It seems unlikely that he will reach his 50-40-90 goal, but it’s definitely a nice goal to have.