NBA IN-SEASON TOURNAMENT

December 6, 2023

Myles Turner

Indiana Pacers

Semifinal Practice Day

Q. Myles, what have you thought of the setup here and the buzz around your team these last couple days?

MYLES TURNER: Yeah, smooth, man. I think we were able to get out here yesterday, get a good practice day in. Vegas is Vegas. Obviously, the bright lights. I think it's going to be really cool for the exposure just for our organization, more national exposure at that. Yeah, I've got no complaints. Be able to get in, get the body acclimated a little bit and get ready to go tomorrow.

Q. Do you feel any symmetry to what you guys started here back in July where all but one of you were here for Summer League and did your morning sessions and kind of got this whole thing rolling?

MYLES TURNER: Yeah, I think the way our culture is set up, guys are always together. I think that's a big part of the Association, building that camaraderie with your team. Guys were up and active, ready to go this morning. We got a good lift in yesterday. Yeah, it kind of does feel like Summer League, just kind of the feel of everything, just being together at all times.

Q. Your team hasn't really been in any kind of meaningful games yet in the postseason, but based on what you've gone through, do you have an idea about your teammates, what to expect if you got into those sort of meaningful games?

MYLES TURNER: Yeah, somewhat. It's still very early. This is what it's good for right now, being battle tested. For guys like myself who's been to the Playoffs, you know what that level, that intensity, what it feels like, but for the guys that haven't, you never know until they actually get there. So when they have these reps this early in the season and exposure like this or longer days like that, even like the longer media timeouts, stuff you don't typically see, it's really good for that.

Q. Tyrese is the leader of this team, one of the top scorers. You are here maybe with a trophy on Saturday. This year is the All-Star also in your city. Do you think maybe this is his year, the year of Tyrese Haliburton and maybe the year when he can turn into one of the big stars of the league?

MYLES TURNER: Yeah, it's a slippery slope with that. I think Tyrese had his first All-Star berth last year, and he got a taste of what that's like after the Team USA stuff this past summer. I think for him everything is about winning. I think he's made that kind of super clear with everything. I respect that, being really even keel.

It's easy to come in here, get the attention and get that pressure and just take it and run with it. But I really think he's focused on getting to that next level. He hasn't experienced that playoff-type of atmosphere yet that we alluded to over here. I think that's what's the most important thing is for him.

As long as we do things the right way as a team, and the way that he's playing right now, all that stuff comes with it -- the All-Stars, the individual accolades, all just comes with a byproduct of your success.

Q. I wanted to ask you, how do you compare the atmosphere from the In-Season Tournament to the playoff atmosphere with the Pacers? And then two, you guys had some moments, you and Tyrese, in terms of chemistry. Jrue kind of veers out on the pick-and-roll, and then you wouldn't set the pick, you would kind of veer out. Just wanted to ask you about that. Was that something you guys went over? I think Tyrese did a double-cross out of it, and then you wouldn't even set the screen, you kind of knew that move was coming. Did you talk about that before too, as well?

MYLES TURNER: Yeah. First and foremost, I really rock with your page, for real, for real. I like what you do.

Second of all, yeah, so when teams start to switch like that, Jrue has done that in the past when he played with the Bucks. He would guard the 5 or guard guys out of position to try to put him on the primary ball handler. I would just try to slip out of everything as quick as possible, so now it gives Tyrese an angle.

I think teams, when they switch 1 through 5, they kind of really get a little messed up of like, do I stay, do I slip, do I go. The way our offense is set up, we're all constantly moving at all times. Someone like Tyrese only needs a sliver. He just needs a little bit of space or separation and he's going to make the right play.

Those are things we've definitely talked about, just not even in practice; it's like an adjustment you make in game.

What was your first question?

Q. The atmosphere, you talked about being in the Playoffs, and we saw at the In-Season Tournament with the Pacers it looked like a playoff atmosphere. I wanted to compare those two?

MYLES TURNER: It was unreal. I personally hadn't seen Gainbridge rocking like that in the past three to four years, since we've been to the actual playoff environment. But what's that decibel thing called? I'm sure that was off the charts, man, like jet engine-type stuff. It was amazing in there.

I know in Indiana what the environment was. Not sure what the environment will be like here. I know back home, they were very deserving of that game. It was very high level, very high intensity. So it was fun stuff.

Q. Something lighthearted and then bigger picture. Do you have any ideas for what you want to do with the prize money if you win?

MYLES TURNER: For me personally, I'm at that point in my career where I'm doing a lot of investments, so making my money work for me. That's kind of a really big thing for me, like starting to buy up land back home in Texas. That's something, other ventures and whatnot, I'm starting to get into.

I don't really have like the playful answer. I'm just kind of at that point where once you're making money and you've made money, you want it to continue to generate revenue. It's a big thing for me. Obviously some money will go back to the fam. But I think it's more important for the guys that haven't got to that next contract yet or two-way guys. That type of money is life-changing money for them, and there's stuff that they can do with that.

I think it's amazing what the NBA, the opportunity they've provided with this.

Q. Why do you think from a player's perspective that this tournament works? What is the motivation for you to win tomorrow, win the championship, all those things?

MYLES TURNER: You know, it's just the stage. I think for a team like us who doesn't really play a lot of nationally televised games or is in like the big-market media like that, this opportunity is second to none. You don't take it for granted.

Given this opportunity to go out there and play, play the game at its highest level with this highest peak exposure, that type of stuff is fun. We look forward to these type of environments as hoopers. I'm excited for the opportunity. I'm excited for our young guys that haven't really gotten that experience like that, that playoff feel yet, and just the organization as a whole.

Q. You've reflected a lot this season on being in Indiana for so much of your life. Now being here, what does it mean to represent the Pacers in the first ever one of these?

MYLES TURNER: Yeah, it's big time. For someone who's seen the organization go as much as it's gone through, the highs and lows, the ups and downs, the rebuilds to where we are now, it's a little bit of fruit of your labors. It's fun stuff, like I said. The opportunity is something that is definitely a blessing. I'm excited to just go out there and just get the opportunity to play, little matinee action.

Q. You've talked a bunch about how you guys think this tournament is an important thing for you guys, a chance to get yourselves out there and win a championship and also get it out on the stage. What are some things you think could improve this thing next year going forward, whether the format or the courts or anything about it? What are some things you'd like to see tweaked to make it better next year?

MYLES TURNER: I know for me personally, the money incentive is really cool. Obviously for someone like myself, it's awesome, as we just talked about that.

But to have more impact on the season itself. Obviously it's early, but for teams that are playoff hopefuls, I'm not saying like an automatic playoff bid, I don't think that's something that you can really just ask for right away. But I don't know, maybe something like at the end of the season if you had like a tiebreaker with somebody, maybe if you win this tournament, no matter what you get an automatic tiebreaker. Or something that has to do more with your record, not just like a monetary incentive. I think that would be dope.

As far as the travel and everything, I think it's been smooth. We got here and were able to acclimate. I can't really ask for too much more. I think that the NBA did a good job with just the whole ideology of this all, just boosting revenue, just getting more eyes on us in this usually dead period of the season.

Yeah, other than just the monetary, that's about all I can think of.

Q. You used the term "exposure" earlier. What's it been like to see what this has done for you guys so far? Just even from Monday you guys are a discussion on "First Take" and whatnot. Just the fact that people are talking about you guys on a national level just from this. What's that been like to experience that this week?

MYLES TURNER: I mean, it's cute. I'll say that. Don't get me wrong, we love being talked about here and there. It's what we ask for. But no one is going to take us seriously until you actually take that next step. For me personally, that's what I care about.

It's cool to have your "First Takes" and your talk on "SportsCenter" and this and that, but we want more. We're not satisfied with just a mention.

I think we still kind of feel like guys don't take us serious enough yet, and until we go out there and actually start winning more meaningful games or have the chance to play on national TV and take care of business, it's not really going to mean anything.

The In-Season Tournament is great. Obviously, our eyes are set on this championship. But we have huge goals this year, and a lot of that is getting back into the playoff fold of things.

Yeah, we'll take the mentions where we can get them, but bigger picture always.