Myles Turner’s Fit in Milwaukee Is Looking Shaky - and the Bucks Are Feeling It
When the Milwaukee Bucks brought in Myles Turner, the vision was clear: pair one of the league’s best shot-blockers with Giannis Antetokounmpo and form a frontcourt that could stretch the floor on one end and lock it down on the other. On paper, it made perfect sense. Turner’s blend of rim protection and three-point shooting has always made him a tantalizing modern big - the kind of player who could thrive next to a superstar like Giannis.
And to be fair, early returns looked promising.
In his first 13 games in a Bucks uniform, Turner was doing a little bit of everything - 12.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.8 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game, while knocking down over 40% of his threes. Milwaukee even used him more as a facilitator than Indiana ever did, and he seemed to be embracing the role. The Bucks’ offense had a new wrinkle, and Turner looked like a seamless fit.
But lately, the cracks have started to show - and they’re getting harder to ignore.
Over his last seven games - four of which came without Giannis - Turner’s numbers have dipped slightly, but it’s the impact behind those numbers that’s raising eyebrows. He’s still averaging 13 points and 6 rebounds, but his shooting has cooled off (just 31.9% from three), and the defensive presence he was brought in to provide just hasn’t been there consistently.
The Bucks are discovering what Pacers fans have known for a while: Turner can be a frustratingly inconsistent player. When he’s on, he’s a game-changer. But when he’s not, he struggles to assert himself in ways that matter - especially in the paint and on the glass.
Defensively, the regression is even more noticeable. Turner can still swat shots - he’s averaging 1.6 blocks over this recent stretch - but he’s no longer the switchable, mobile big he once was.
He’s getting beat off the dribble more often, struggling to keep up with cutters, and isn’t the kind of defensive anchor that can single-handedly elevate a unit. In short: he’s not the Defensive Player of the Year candidate he once projected to be.
That’s a tough pill to swallow for a Bucks team that’s committed to him long-term - his contract runs through at least the 2027-28 season. Milwaukee was banking on Turner being a difference-maker on both ends, but right now, he’s not moving the needle the way they hoped.
Meanwhile, back in Indiana, the Pacers are starting to turn the page - and they’re doing it with some promise. Jay Huff, brought in to essentially be a “Turner-lite,” is leading the league in blocks at 2.3 per game. He looks comfortable in the system, vocal on defense, and is showing the kind of instincts and energy that made Turner a fan favorite in his early years.
It’s not about rewriting Turner’s legacy in Indiana - he was a valuable piece for a long time. But what’s becoming clear is just how replaceable he might be. And for a Bucks team that’s trying to maximize Giannis’ prime, that’s a tough realization to come to.
Milwaukee still has time to figure it out, and Turner still has the tools to turn things around. But right now, the fit that once looked like a slam dunk is starting to feel more like a gamble - one the Bucks can’t afford to lose.