Former Pacers Star Lands Important New Role Within the NBA

Former Indiana Pacers star center Myles Turner has been elected as the newest NBPA Vice President. Turner is taking over for Garrett Temple, who retired after the 2025-26 season. Turner will now be a key voice for his fellow NBA players. 

The 30-year-old center spent the first 10 years of his career with the Pacers before signing a four-year, $108.9 million deal with the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2025 offseason. 

Turner had a strong career with the Pacers, averaging 13.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 2.1 blocks per game, shooting 49.4 percent from the field and 36.5 percent from three.

He was a key piece for Indiana in his final season with the team, as he averaged 15.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and two blocks per game while shooting 48.1 percent from the floor and 39.6 percent from behind the arc. 

Turner helped the Pacers reach the NBA Finals, where they fell in seven games to the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

While he was impactful for Indiana as a shot-blocker and floor spacer, he wasn't a strong rebounder or screen-setter. The Pacers opted to find those qualities in their replacement in the deadline trade with the Los Angeles Clippers, which sent Ivica Zubac to the Clippers.

In the 2025-26 season, Zubac appeared in 48 games, averaging 14.1 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game, shooting 59.8 percent from the floor.

He played at a high level in the 2024-25 season, averaging 16.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game, shooting 62.8 percent from the field. Zubac was named to the All-Defensive Second Team.

Both Turner and Zubac are quality defenders, but have different playstyles. Tyrese Haliburton will look to establish chemistry with his new big man in the 2026-27 season.

Zubac won't provide the floor spacing that Turner did, but he will set better screens and clean up the glass, which could help the Pacers get out in transition. 

Although Turner is no longer suiting up for Indiana, he will still have an impact league-wide as he takes on his new role in the NBPA.