Myles Turner’s return to Indiana didn’t go quite the way he imagined.
The veteran center spent ten seasons with the Pacers before signing a four-year, $107 million deal with the Bucks in the offseason.
But those ten years didn’t seem to mean much, since he was booed loudly by the home crowd during his tribute video Monday night.
“It was disheartening, man. It was frustrating,” Turner told ESPN after the Bucks’ 117-115 win over his former team. “You give ten years of your life, your blood, your sweat, your tears. You take pay cuts. You survive trade rumors. You try to do everything the right way, and then sometimes stuff shakes out. It is cool. I take it on the chin.”
Turner said the boos “woke me up,” and he quickly turned frustration into fuel.
The 28-year-old scored seven of his nine points in the opening quarter, adding seven rebounds and five blocks as the Bucks escaped Indiana with a dramatic buzzer-beating win – courtesy of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Antetokounmpo, who finished with 33 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists, made sure to stick up for his new teammate after the game.
“He might not say it, but [the boos] kind of hurt,” Antetokounmpo said. “But we are here to pick him up, tell him how much we love him and respect him. We understand how much he gave for the team, for Indiana, and how much he’s willing to give for Milwaukee. He’s a great, great person, great character, a great competitor. I played against him for ten years. I think he gave everything.”
Bucks coach Doc Rivers also expressed disappointment in the reception Turner received.
“I was really disappointed tonight,” Rivers said. “He wasn’t trying to leave Indiana, he just got a better deal. That’s basketball.”
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