The Pacers' trip to the NBA Finals in 2025 was the culmination of a roster-building process that included trades for Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam and Aaron Nesmith, but one player was making an impact in Indiana long before any of those players put on the jersey.
Myles Turner was drafted to be a key frontcourt piece next to Paul George, reached the playoffs alongside Victor Oladipo, survived trade rumors during the Pacers' leaner years and came out on the other end of it as a crucial part of a contending roster.
An impressive shot-blocker who provides value on both ends of the floor, Turner has earned a place in Pacers history.
Here's a look at where Turner ranks among Sporting News' 11 greatest Pacers players of all time.
MORE: Ranking the 11 greatest Pacers players of all time
Where does Myles Turner rank among Pacers legends?
Turner ranks No. 8 on Sporting News' list of the 11 greatest players in Pacers history.
From an accolades standpoint, Turner doesn't line up with many of the greatest players in Pacers history. He has never been an All-Star and doesn't have any All-NBA appearances, with only one top-five finish in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
For a number of reasons, though, Turner has a place in Pacers history. He spent the first decade of his career in Indiana, signing two extensions with the small-market franchise and surviving multiple years' worth of trade rumors. He became a valuable presence on both ends of the floor as soon as he entered the NBA, averaging double-digit points per game each year and leading the league in blocks twice.
In the 2020s, Turner was a key part of Pacers playoff success, serving as an indispensable piece on an Indiana team that reached the NBA Finals in 2025 before leaving for the Bucks in free agency.
While Turner might not fill the stat sheet, his reliability and longevity mean Haliburton isn't the only top-10 Pacer of all time on Indiana's 2025 NBA Finals roster.
MORE: Have the Pacers ever won an NBA Championship?
Myles Turner career milestones and achievements
Here's a complete breakdown of Turner's career achievements.
All-Star appearances with Pacers
Turner has never made an All-Star appearance since entering the NBA. Injuries impacted Turner's viability as an All-Star candidate, as he missed at least 20 games in three consecutive seasons from 2020-21 to 2022-23 despite posting strong numbers.
All-NBA selections
Turner has never earned an All-NBA or All-Defensive selection during his NBA career. Some Pacers fans might take issue with Turner's lack of All-Defensive selections, as he led the NBA in blocks per game in both 2018-19 and 2020-21, even finishing fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2018-19.
MORE: Revisiting the 2000 NBA Finals between Pacers and Lakers
Award voting
- 2018-19: 5th in Defensive Player of the Year voting
- 2020-21: 9th in Defensive Player of the Year voting
Turner has never won a major award, but he has two career top-10 finishes in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Playoff appearances
- 7 playoff appearances
- 2 Eastern Conference Finals appearances
- 1 NBA Finals appearance
Turner reached the playoffs in seven of his 10 seasons with the Pacers, but he didn't advance past the first round until the Pacers' run to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2024.
Turner averaged 17.0 points and 6.6 rebounds per game during Indiana's 2024 playoff run, and he was a pivotal part of the Pacers' efforts to secure their first NBA Finals appearance in a quarter-century in 2025.
Milestones
- Pacers' all-time blocks leaders
- Pacers' single-season blocks leader
- 2-time NBA blocks per game leader
- 9,031 points
- 4,349 rebounds
Turner is the leading shot-blocker in Pacers history and holds the single-season franchise record for blocks per game. He also led the NBA in blocks per game in both 2018-19 and 2020-21, topping out at 3.4 in the latter.
MORE: Tyrese Haliburton buzzer-beaters and game-winners timeline
Myles Turner career stats
Turner has averaged double-digit points per game in each of his 10 NBA seasons, developing a 3-point shot over time to go along with his terrific shot-blocking abilities on the other end.
| Season | Team | Games | PPG | RPG | APG | BPG | FG% | 3-pt% |
| 2015-16 | Pacers | 60 | 10.3 | 5.5 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 49.8% | 21.4% |
| 2016-17 | Pacers | 81 | 14.5 | 7.3 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 51.1% | 34.8% |
| 2017-18 | Pacers | 65 | 12.7 | 6.4 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 47.9% | 35.7% |
| 2018-19 | Pacers | 74 | 13.3 | 7.2 | 1.6 | 2.7 | 48.7% | 38.8% |
| 2019-20 | Pacers | 62 | 12.1 | 6.6 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 45.7% | 34.4% |
| 2020-21 | Pacers | 47 | 12.6 | 6.5 | 1.0 | 3.4 | 47.7% | 33.5% |
| 2021-22 | Pacers | 42 | 12.9 | 7.1 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 50.9% | 33.3% |
| 2022-23 | Pacers | 62 | 18.0 | 7.5 | 1.4 | 2.3 | 54.8% | 37.3% |
| 2023-24 | Pacers | 77 | 17.1 | 6.9 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 52.4% | 35.8% |
| 2024-25 | Pacers | 77 | 15.6 | 6.5 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 48.1% | 39.6% |
| Career | 642 | 14.1 | 6.8 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 49.9% | 36.2% |
MORE: The story behind Reggie Miller's iconic choke gesture
Will Myles Turner be in the Hall of Fame?
While the Basketball Hall of Fame has a reputation for being fairly lenient compared to other Hall of Fames, Turner faces a tough road to getting there. He has made himself a fan favorite in Indiana, but his lack of accolades along with solid but not eye-popping stats are likely to keep him out of Hall of Fame consideration.
MORE: Where does Reggie Miller rank in Pacers history?
Myles Turner best highlights
Turner came up big in the 2025 playoffs with a 23-point, 4-block performance to give the Pacers a 3-1 series lead over the Bucks.
Here are the best moments from Turner's career-high 40-point game against the Celtics in 2023:
Turner unleashed a thundering dunk against the Timberwolves in 2022, putting Jaden McDaniels on a poster in a game the Pacers already controlled.
MORE: Breaking down Tyrese Haliburton's place in Pacers history