Indiana Pacers Codexery

Myles Turner

Shot-blocking center who spent 10 seasons with the Pacers and now plays for the Bucks.

Myles Christian Turner (born March 24, 1996) is an American professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played one season for the Texas Longhorns before being selected by the Indiana Pacers with the 11th overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft. Turner spent 10 seasons with the Pacers, reaching the 2025 NBA Finals in his final year with the team. Standing at 6 ft, Turner plays the center position. He has led the league in blocks twice in his career.

Quick Facts

All-defensive first team
2019
All-defensive second team
2020

Lore & Background

Turner was born in Bedford, Texas, to parents David Turner and Mary Turner, and started playing basketball at age 6. He attended Central Junior High School, and as a 6 ft freshman, he led his team to 28 wins. Throughout high school, Turner played AAU basketball for the Texas Select team. Between his sophomore and junior year, Turner broke his ankle but recovered and gained 30 pounds through two-a-day weight training. In his junior year, he averaged 15.7 points, 12.87 rebounds and 8.64 blocks per game, leading Trinity to a 17–13 record and reaching the state playoffs for the first time in 10 years. He accumulated six triple-doubles. In his senior year, he averaged 18.1 points, 12.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 6.8 blocks per game, leading the Trojans to a 24–7 record. He was rated a five-star prospect and considered the No. 2 center in the nation behind Jahlil Okafor. On April 30, 2014, he committed to play for the University of Texas. He took part in the 2014 McDonald's All-American Boys Game and represented the United States in the 2014 FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship, winning a gold medal. As a freshman at Texas, he averaged 10.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game, earning 2015 Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors. On March 30, 2015, Turner declared for the NBA draft.

Reader's Guide

Turner was selected by the Indiana Pacers with the 11th overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft. He missed 21 games of his rookie season after surgery to repair a fracture in his left thumb. On January 22, 2016, he scored a then career-high 31 points. On March 3, he was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for February. He helped the Pacers reach the playoffs as the seventh seed, where they lost 4–3 to the Toronto Raptors in the first round. At the season's end, he earned NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors. In the 2016–17 season, he recorded 30 points and 16 rebounds in the season opener. Prior to the 2017–18 season, Turner was elected team captain. On October 15, 2018, he signed a four-year, $72 million contract extension. On February 25, 2020, he recorded a career-high eight blocks. He finished the 2020–21 season with a league-leading 3.4 blocks per game. On October 22, 2021, he recorded a career-high 40 points. On January 20, 2023, he signed a two-year, $43 million extension. On March 22, 2024, he became the all-time blocks leader in Pacers franchise history with his 1,246th block. In his final season with the Pacers, he helped the Pacers reach the 2025 NBA Finals, where they lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games. On July 7, 2025, Turner signed a four-year, $108.9 million contract with the Milwaukee Bucks.

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