Indiana Pacers exit interviews: Myles Turner put it all together. Now he wants more team success with the Pacers

Turner had his best season yet for the Pacers in 2022-23

Myles Turner had quite the 2022-23 season for the Indiana Pacers.

His points per game number was a career high at 18.0. His rebounds per game number, 7.5, reached a career-best level too. And his true shooting percentage of 65.1% was a Pacers franchise record. Offensively, this was the best season Turner has ever had. It isn't close.

"I'm proud of my offensive output," Turner said at his exit interview just after the season ended.

Defensively, Turner wasn't quite as effective as he has been in the past. He had to cover for the mistakes of others often, and his rim protection didn't feel as impactful compared to his peak. He was still a presence patrolling the lane and defending pick and rolls, and his defensive box plus-minus was still among the best on Indiana's roster.

Summed all up, it was clearly the best NBA season Myles Turner has ever played. The team was 29-33 when he suited up and 6-12 when he didn't. He played a significant role in the Pacers exceeding expectations.

But he wants more. "I think that's a big thing I need everybody to understand. This was a good year, but this isn't my ceiling," Turner emphasized. "This is just where I'm getting started and I can take off from. This is the first year I've played in this position and I'm excited to grow on it."

The role Turner had this season is the one he always thought was best for him. In the past, he felt as if he wasn't placed high enough in the Pacers pecking order, saying that he felt like a role player. He wanted more responsibilities and more role clarity.

He also shared in the past that he felt like he hadn't scratched the surface of his potential. He knew he could do more. With more opportunities and chances, Turner thought he could take off.

This season, he proved himself right. He had a larger role, represented by a career-high 22% usage rate, and he took advantage of it. Having a distributor like Tyrese Haliburton helped him, but he helped himself by knocking down shots from all over the court and proving to be a more versatile player than previously thought.

"Playing with a pass-first point guard was a big thing for me. Playing my natural position was another huge thing for me as well," the center said.

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Turner's masterful season led to a contract extension with the Pacers, tying him to the franchise for two more seasons. He fits well with Haliburton and can accentuate the team's identity, making him a great fit for the blue and gold as they progress forward.

Now that Turner has established himself as the player he always told everyone he could be, though, he wants more. But not as an individual. Instead, he wants to parlay his increased effectiveness into team success. He and George Hill are only members of the Pacers roster right now that have won a playoff game with the franchise. Turner wants that feeling again.

"I've had some individual success, but I want to prove that this is more than a flyover city... I think we've got a solid core that was able to come together and start something this year, but we want to keep building upon that ourselves," he said.

For that to be the case, Indiana will need to improve their defense and general consistency. One year of experience together should help with that, but an infusion of talent would help, too.

Either way, Turner's role in the team's success going forward is obvious. He needs to continue to be the same level of offensive player he was this past season while raising his defensive level closer to where it was when he was an All-Defensive team candidate. Improved talent around him will help Turner on defense. But now he has shown what his peak level can be on both ends of the court in the Pacers current system. Next season, showing it on a nightly basis will help the team reach the level of success the big man craves.

"Mentality was a big thing for me," Turner said of his season and his growth. "My mentality just shifted. I said 'I'm going to go straight to grind mode and just get it, man. Whatever happens, happens. Roll the ball and play'."

That mentality will be key for Turner and for Indiana next season. If he can maintain it when he isn't in a contract year or facing external questions about his future, that will be significant for the team.

The fact that he's stepping up as a leader indicates that he will do his part. Turner wants to grow outside of the game in the offseason, but he also wants to get better himself. He challenged his teammates to be better individual defenders next season, and that challenge won't fall on deaf ears if Turner himself is better on the less glamorous end of the court in 2023-24.

"Frustrating at times to get to this point. I saw it out, I saw it through. I couldn't be happier with the way things played out for me individually this year. But I'm not satisfied," Turner said of his journey. There were times when it wasn't clear that the big man would remain with the Pacers, but it worked out well in the end.

Next season, Turner will be 27. He's entering his prime for a team with playoff aspirations. As one of the only members of the roster with a postseason victory while wearing an Indiana jersey before, his next steps are critical to the team's success and goals.

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