Myles Turner understood that his bosses were in a tough spot, having to trade Paul George after he made his desire to play in Los Angeles public. That also meant the Pacers would change their immediate focus.
Down in Orlando to support the Pacers’ summer league team, Turner joined NBA TV’s Matt Winer and Grant Hill at intermission. It were the first public comments made by a Pacers player since the trade was agreed upon late Friday night.
“I took a nap and I woke and I saw the news and was like, ‘Wow, the Thunder of all people! You hear the rumors of the Celtics, and the Lakers, Cavs, and the Thunder are a dark-horse team,” Turner said. “It was definitely surprising but he’s moving on to his endeavors and he’s got to do what he has to do.
“Him making it known that he wants to play for the Lakers, we knew we had to move him and stat acquiring some new pieces and start looking forward to the future. We’ve been texting back and forth a little bit. I couldn’t be happier for him. The future is hear.”
(Full summer league roster and schedule)
Turner shared how he learned from George, specifically during his rookie season when he missed two-dozen games.
“When I missed all that time with my thumb, missing 20 games, I just looked at his approach — the way he played the game, the way he was the first guy in gym, last guy to leave kind-of-thing,” he said. “You hear that, it’s so nonchalant the way he does that. It’s just a part of his game.”
“It was definitely surprising.”
Myles Turner joined @matt_winer and @realgranthill33 to talk Paul George going to OKC. #NBASummer pic.twitter.com/vuEWCdBucB
— NBA TV (@NBATV) July 1, 2017
Turner also talked about the new guys, Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis.
“I’m a big fan of both of their games,” he said. Turner played against Sabonis during a college scrimmage, and with Oladipo last summer with the USA Select Team.
Myles Turner talks new teammates, future of the @Pacers and growing as a leader with @matt_winer and @realgranthill33. #NBASummer pic.twitter.com/WvIlzukAwS
— NBA TV (@NBATV) July 1, 2017
Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders also shared video interviews with Turner and Pacers guard Joe Young:
Myles Turner (@Original_Turner) reacts to Paul George trade, stepping up as Indy's star, Victor Oladipo/Domantas Sabonis coming in and more: pic.twitter.com/VFSHAhUlFW
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) July 1, 2017
Pacers PG Joe Young responds to the Paul George trade, Victor Oladipo/Domantas Sabonis joining Indiana, the team's youth movement and more: pic.twitter.com/NOkyIKDSdq
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) July 1, 2017