Myles Turner Explains Not Telling Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers Stars About Bucks Contract in New Video

Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner provided some insight this week into leaving the Indiana Pacers for the Bucks in free agency this past offseason.

During an appearance Friday on the Dawg Talk Podcast (h/t HoopsHype.com), Turner explained why he didn't inform is former Pacers teammates of his intention to leave and sign with the Bucks as a free agent:

"I couldn't tell Tyrese [Haliburton], Pascal [Siakam], Obi [Toppin], TJ [McConnell], or any of those guys what was really going on at the time because, one, it's basically a breach when you're in active negotiations. And two, I couldn't show my hand," Turner said. "If I told them what was up, then all of a sudden it gets back to the front office like, 'Oh, Myles, you've got this going on,' and that could mess up my whole free-agency process. And mind you, this was my first time ever being a free agent—an unrestricted free agent. So I had to cherish that opportunity to choose, and I was going to take full advantage of it."

Turner, who turns 30 on Tuesday, spent his first 10 seasons in Indiana, appearing in 642 regular-season games and 66 playoff games. He also played a big role in the Pacers reaching the NBA Finals last season.

However, after Turner left to sign a four-year, $108.86 million contract with the Bucks, he received a negative reaction from Pacers fans upon his return to Indiana for his first game against the Pacers as an opponent.

Speaking on the Dawg Talk Podcast (h/t HoopsHype.com), Turner noted that he had a difficult time with the fact that the Pacers fans booed him rather than showing appreciation for his contributions to the organization and the city.

"So, and again, there was like comments that I said afterwards that people kind of took and spun for their own narrative, whatnot. You know, I'm saying like I'm in a spot that is going to appreciate me now. ... I was talking about the front office, but they in the city of Indiana took it on them like, 'Oh, we appreciate you for years. The f--k are you talking about?'

"And then I got on a podcast just like this and started talking about Tyrese and our relationship or whatnot. Talked about him for, I don't know, maybe like five minutes of everything that we had been through. Then it took like a five-second clip, but I said something about like, oh, fake tough guy, this, this, and that. Clip farm that and try to make me into like into the enemy and whatnot. Like that's just how it goes, bro.

"But I mean, again, I understood game afterwards and you know it was no real bad blood, but kind of just is what it is cuz it is a rivalry and now I'm forever just going to kind of be that guy. The hardest part was getting booed, though. I will say that going back to the arena and then you put 10 years of your life and your blood, sweat into an organization. I got booed throughout the entire tribute video, bro. And again, what people say is that I deserved it because of what I said and this and that."

When Turner mentioned comments he made about Haliburton, he was referencing an appearance on the Thanalysis Show. In a clip from the interview, Turner said, "Tyrese, also, he knows he's protected, too. So he can go out there, talk his s--t, say whatever the hell he wants to do, and he knows he has backup at the end of the day. Now, he's not going to be talking the same s--t if he's in the middle of the street."

However, some positive things Turner had to say about Haliburton were not included in the clip, including Turner saying there is no "beef" between them, and adding, "When we're on the court, yeah, of course I'm trying to bust your ass. That's how it is. But off the floor, man, I want you to win."

Turner later took to X and blamed "clip farming culture" for taking his comments out of context:

Regardless of that, Pacers fans were not welcoming when Turner returned for the first time this season, and it may prove difficult for him to get back in their good graces.

One thing that could help is the Pacers bouncing back and returning to playoff and championship contention next season.

Turner leaving and Haliburton missing the entire season due to a torn Achilles resulted in the Pacers going from Eastern Conference champions last season to the worst team in the league this season.

However, with Haliburton returning next season, center Ivica Zubac joining the team as a trade deadline acquisition and the Pacers potentially landing one of the top players in the 2026 NBA draft, they could be right back in the thick of things soon.