Myles Turner cleared to resume full activities

Myles Turner has been cleared to resume full activities following an X-ray Monday morning. The X-ray took place as originally scheduled, exactly six weeks after surgery.

“I’m super anxious [to get back out there],” Turner said on Sunday. “It’s been beneficial to sit here and watch, but I want to get back out there. I’ve had time to work on my body and I’ve had time to analyze film but I’m ready to be back out there and make an impact.”

The Pacers 2015 first-round pick sustained a chip fracture in his left thumb in the team’s win at Boston on Nov. 11. He wasn’t in the game for a minute in the first half when it occurred, and then he immediately exited.

Turner then had surgery on his left thumb on Monday, Nov. 16, performed by Dr. Tim Dicke of OrthoIndy Hospital in Indianapolis. The Pacers estimated that the rookie would be sidelined for six weeks.

He has been in a soft cast for weeks now.

Head coach Frank Vogel is excited to have the 6-foot-11 center back in the fold after he’s missed the last 20 games. Vogel doesn’t plan to re-insert him into the rotation right away and says he’ll be monitoring Turner each day. Most importantly, Turner has to work to get back in game condition.

“Nothing can simulate playing 5-on-5 full-court so he’s going to have a ways to go, for sure,” Vogel said on Sunday.

Turner has not participated in practices and is typically off to the side watching or shooting at a basket by himself. Before and after practices, he has been working one-on-one with big man coach Popeye Jones. (More on that in a story to come.)

Turner, who’s just 19, was averaging 6.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks per game in 15.9 minutes per game before the injury.