Unsung hero: Don't sleep on Indiana's Myles Turner

Myles Turner has heard it all.

The Indiana Pacers' big man wasn't strong enough when drafted 11th out of Texas as a 19-year-old in 2015. The Pacers should have built around Domantas Sabonis. Incessant trade rumors dogged the 6-foot-11 forward for the majority of his career.

You name it, Turner has heard it. And it wore him down. But now, with Indiana with a 1-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals against the hated New York Knicks heading into Friday's Game 2, Turner is the unsung hero of a magical postseason run.

On draft night, Turner was billed as a project. But he has developed into an integral piece of the franchise. Since being paired with star point guard Tyrese Haliburton full time in 2022-23, the 29-year-old has tallied his three best scoring seasons. This season, he knocked down a career-best 39.6% of his three-point attempts and made 2.2 per game. He's also still one of the better rim protectors in the league and has twice led the NBA in blocks.

The talk has quieted. No more trade rumors. No more doubt about who the Pacers should have stuck with between him and Sabonis. All there is now is winning.

Consider: The Pacers advanced to the 2023 in-season tournament final in which they fell to the Los Angeles Lakers. Last season, Indiana advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals before being swept by the eventual champion Boston Celtics. Ahead of Game 2, the Pacers are in the driver's seat as the franchise looks to advance to its first Finals since 1999-00.

Turner's story is a series of decisions by the Pacers to stick with him. On draft night, Indiana took him 11th, two spots ahead of Phoenix's Devin Booker. And while his name has appeared in trade rumors throughout the years, Indiana has hung on to him every time. 

When it came time to decide between he and Sabonis, the Pacers chose Turner. When Indiana was looking for a new head coach in 2021, it hired Rick Carlisle, who instantly built chemistry with its then disgruntled big man. Indiana's loyalty has been rewarded.

Haliburton is the darling of the postseason, and rightfully so, thanks to his myriad of big shots and closing ability. Others, such as forward Aaron Nesmith, have snagged headlines for their play. But quietly and consistently there is Turner. 

No, he hasn't piled up All-Star selections or awards, but he's a steadying presence for a franchise that's made the playoffs seven of the past 10 years. The only common denominator during that stretch? Turner.

Moving forward this postseason, the noise around Turner should ratchet up again, but it should sound a little different. It should sound like nothing but praise.