Welcome to the League
Two games into the season, a dream became a reality. Myles Turner made his professional basketball debut on October 29th, 2015 versus the Memphis Grizzlies and did not disappoint. Entering the game for nearly 18 minutes, he left the game with 8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block. It gave many Pacers fans hope for the future and curiosity about how he will evolve during this rookie season.
Fast forward to the Utah game, he posted 10 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 block. Everyone started to believe he made an immediate impact on the Pacers offense with his ability to add to the depth of bigs with shooting touch. He has proven to be just over a 3 and D player that has added a lot of energy off the bench for the Pacers.
The biggest take away from the first few games has been the consistency. The minutes have ranged 12 to 22 but the effort has been the same. Active hands, hustle plays, board crashing, and energy has been a staple in Myles first few outings. It sparks imagination for what he will transition into once he has logged some quality minutes at the center position. Coaching staff and Pacer’s front office have expressed their approval for how the rookie is adjusting to the league. Most recently, his teammate C. J. Miles gave his opinion on the new addition to the team:
“There’s not a lot of guys who do what he does offensively and defensively,” Miles said. “You see guys with the skillset of LaMarcus Aldridge — not that he’s not a good defensive player, but he’s not a crazy rim protector. But then you have Myles, who has the jump shot like LaMarcus does — he’s not there yet, obviously, but he has the potential to be able to do both of those things on both ends. There’s not a lot of guys who get that. There’s not a lot of 3-point shooting bigs who block shots.”
Source: http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/25362118/what-is-going-on-with-the-pacers-small-ball-experiment
Only 6 games in but Myles definitely has shown that he is ready to contribute every time he steps on the floor. The enthusiasm is there, the effort is there, we just have to wait and see what the season will bring. He is a special player that fits seamlessly into the Pacer’s direction as an organization. There is no doubt that at the right time, MT will step up and be the player they need this year. For more MT action, check here for updates and cool articles throughout his rookie journey.
Statistics according to Basketball-Reference.com
