Most Indiana Pacers fans have changed their opinion on former big man Myles Turner for the worse after his offseason departure. And his comments ahead of his first game against his former team won't change that (h/t Jamal Collier of ESPN).
"Ownership made a decision and I kind of had no choice but to roll with it," Turner said. "The toughest part is we were just so close to accomplishing the ultimate goal. It just feels like they gave up."
As most in the basketball world know, the former long-time Pacer, who spent his first 10 NBA seasons with the team, joined their rivals this past offseason, the Milwaukee Bucks.
It has since been debated what exactly happened. Did Turner swerve the Pacers, choosing not to let them counter Milwaukee's offer before he signed with them in free agency? Or, as the Texas native suggests, were the Pacers just being stingy, choosing to prioritize staying under the luxury tax over paying him?
Regardless of how it happened, what's done is done, and both sides are navigating through their new lives. However, there is still a clear sense of irony in Turner's latest comments, and Pacers fans can't help but laugh at their former center.
Myles Turner's comments are guaranteed to make Pacers fans laugh
Turner's suggestion that Indiana's front office "gave up" on winning a championship is certainly interesting coming from him.
As Pacers fans know, the 29-year-old struggled heavily in the NBA Finals, which played a huge role in the team ultimately falling short of upsetting the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In the seven-game series, Turner averaged 10.6 points on 37.7% shooting from the field and 21.4% from deep. Additionally, he averaged 4.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 2 turnovers. In his final two games as a Pacer, he scored a combined nine points on 3-for-13 shooting, including 1-for-6 from beyond the arc.
Of course, Turner didn't "give up" in the NBA Finals. He was just outmatched by Oklahoma City's historic defense. However, this doesn't make his comments any less ironic, especially considering that he jumped ship just weeks after he last suited up for the Pacers.
Ultimately, it remains to be seen what exactly is in store for both parties in the long run. But right now, there are reasons to believe that the Pacers are in a better position to succeed for the long haul.
This season specifically is a different story. They started the year 0-5 before securing their first win against the Golden State Warriors, and they are going to be without star guard Tyrese Haliburton for the season due to an Achilles injury. Additionally, just a couple of weeks into the season, they had key players on the shelf, such as Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, Obi Toppin, and T.J. McConnell.
However, beyond this season, the future is bright in Indiana.
The Pacers still have an incredible roster consisting of young and hungry players. Additionally, they still have Rick Carlisle, one of the best head coaches in the game today, leading the way.
As for Turner and the Bucks, he has already shown signs of regression, and it still remains to be seen what Giannis Antetokounmpo's long-term future with the team looks like.
Either way, it is safe to say that Pacers fans are going to keep an eye on their former big man for a long time, whether it be for good or bad reasons. And based on his latest comments, it is safe to assume that he only added more fuel to the fire.