LAS VEGAS (WISH) — It’s going to take some getting used to — Myles Turner in Milwaukee Bucks green.
That’s exactly how Turner started his press conference Friday as he was officially introduced as the Bucks new center.
Don’t worry. His girlfriend said he looks great in green.
Milwaukee shocked the NBA by signing Turner in free agency to a four-year, $107 million contract — taking him away from the only team he’d ever played for — the Indiana Pacers.
Fresh off a trip to the NBA Finals with those Pacers, Turner decided now was the time to make a change. His reasoning landed on the competitiveness of the Bucks roster.
“Being part of winning basketball, it’s just changed my entire perspective on this league,” Turner said. “I saw a chance to remain competitive (in Milwaukee), and (Bucks general manager) Jon (Horst) and even (head coach) Doc (Rivers) have assured me that winning is our priority here. We just align with our visions.”
Turner wrote a heart-felt goodbye to Indy and Pacers nation for social media but stayed away from talking much about the team where he spent 10 years of his career during his press conference. He said ultimately there were “alignment issues” on the Pacers’ side in terms of contract details.
There was a lot of decisions that had to go into it. It wasn’t an easy one,” Turner said. “I spent 10 years of my life in one place. I was a teenager when I got to the Indy market. When I just sat back and started to evaluate things and seeing where I was in my career, seeing where I was in my life, and what I wanted for myself, I saw what the Bucks were putting together, and I just was excited for the opportunity.”
Turner broke the news to his Pacers teammates in a group message. Some responded back, Turner said. But the decision had been made.
“This is where I needed to be.”
While the Pacers lose their longest-tenured player to their rival, they also will be without All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton. An Achilles tear in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder will cost the face of the franchise his entire next season.
Turner was asked if Haliburton’s injury factored in to his choice to move on:
“You just realize how hard it is to get (to the NBA Finals), how hard it is to win, how mentally exhausting it is, physically, everything. Just one of the best experiences of my entire life. The only thing that went into this decision was getting to get that experience once again. And I saw an opportunity here to make that happen,” Turner answered.
Joining the likes of two-time MVP and nine-time All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo in the front court was certainly a major factor in Turner’s — and Milwaukee’s — commitment to get the deal done.
“If you could sit down before free agency started and draw the perfect fit next to Giannis, it was a picture of (Turner),” Rivers said.
The Bucks had a majority of their big names re-sign to stay with the herd — like Bobby Portis and Gary Trent Jr. That only added to Turner’s confidence.
“My former team, we were young and hungry. I look at this team that’s a veteran group of guys that’s just grungy, that just want to win by any means necessary,” Turner said. “Just battling them in these series, it just woke something up in me. I was just curious to see what that would be like. There’s a reason guys want to be here… Everybody sees the vision.”
Turner finished his press conference brining it all back to his new team color.
“I hate when they say ‘The grass ain’t greener on the other side.’ I’m confident enough to say the grass is going to be green wherever I go.”
