Pacers’ Myles Turner Has ‘Lofty’ Goal For Next Season

Indiana Pacers big man Myles Turner wants to join the 50/40/90 NBA club next season. The Texas product talked about his “lofty” goal on the “Setting The Pace” podcast.

“Working on multiple things. Obviously, still improving my shot. Get my numbers up there. I really strive to be like a 50/40/90 guy,” Turner said. “I think it’s possible… a lofty goal at that, but something I know I’m capable of doing.

“And really, 50/40/90 is obviously a big goal for me as well. I think that’s something that I think is attainable.”

Turner is an outstanding rebounder and defender. He’s led the NBA in blocks per game twice and can stretch the floor with his improved shooting. Turner put up 18.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game in 2022-23 for the Pacers while shooting 54.8% from the field, 37.3% from beyond the arc and 78.3% from the free-throw line.

Turner will make $20.9 million next season. He signed a two-year, $58 million extension with the Pacers in January 2023. The 27-year-old has career NBA averages of 13.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 2.3 blocks. He will have made over $140 million in his career once his current contract ends.

Turner is looking forward to playing with Bruce Brown next season. The center told NBA reporter Dustin Dopirak of the Indianapolis Star that the guard will help the Pacers build a championship mindset since he won the 2023 title with the Denver Nuggets.

“I think we definitely got better,” Turner said. “We got that (NBA) championship mindset with Bruce Brown. He’s fresh off a ‘chip. He could have gone anywhere this summer and he chose to come here and build with this group. I was with (general manager Chad Buchanan) last night at the Nike Skills Academy in Portland and we just talked about the opportunity we have this year and a lot of that comes to being better on defense. I love what we did this summer. I think we got a lot more athletic. I think Tyrese (Haliburton) is going to thrive with this. … I love how fast we are.”

Brown signed a two-year, $45 million contract with the Pacers. He was an unrestricted NBA free agent after declining his 2023-24 player option with the Nuggets. The Miami product averaged 11.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists for the Nuggets in 2022-23 while shooting 48.3% from the field, 35.8% from beyond the arc and 75.8% from the free-throw line.