'I’m built for this': On the continued partnership of the Pacers and Myles Turner

How the deal came together and why the Pacers were thrilled to reward Turner, who is having a career year — and ascending 🚀

LED video boards celebrate Myles Turner’s contract extension with the Pacers.

The space was prepared for a celebration.

Inside the entry pavilion at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, four giant LED video displays were ready for the occasion.

“MYLES TURNER EXTENDED” they read.

And on another was a mix of photos and videos from Turner’s time in Indy, dating back to 2015 when he was the 11th pick in the draft. It showed flashes of short-hair Myles, him in the community, hanging with fans and blocking plenty of shots on the court.

Monday was a scheduled off day for the Pacers — what they call a blackout day — since they had three days between games. So the day was dedicated, rightfully so, to celebrating Turner and the team’s business partnership that was extended through the 2024-25 season.

There were four rows of chairs unfolded and organized neatly, each labeled with a card at the end of the row. “CAA” for his agency, Creative Arts Agency. “Front Office” and “Media.”

By 3:15 p.m., the majority of Pacers Sports & Entertainment employees had arrived for the occasion. The marketing department brought a couple big heads of Myles, plus a couple poster boards. After all, Turner has had a fan section — Turner’s Block — since his sophomore season, back in 2016.

At 3:24 p.m., Trevelin Queen was the first teammate to arrive. Five minutes later, James Johnson and Andrew Nembhard entered. Then Tyrese Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin.

By 3:31 p.m., the program got underway with a two-minute video that began showing highlights from his time in Indy, going back to 2015 when he was drafted as a 19-year-old after just one season at the University of Texas.

Then, there was movement from the three-bank elevators at stage right and Turner, plus members of his management team and the front office, exited onto the main concourse. One by one, they walked down the steps and to the table with three chairs.

For Rick Carlisle, for Turner and for Kevin Pritchard, the team president.

“This is a great day for our organization,” Pritchard said to the crowd of more than a hundred, plus hundreds more watching online.