Indiana Pacers’ Myles Turner opens up about emulating Kevin Durant’s game and crafting his unique style on the court.
Ever since Myles Turner was drafted in the 2015 NBA Draft, he has been labeled as a stretch big man. He has a reliable jump shot which is not expected from a 6’11” center like him. This was an anomaly in the past, but it has become more commonplace nowadays as stretch bigs have become integral parts of some teams, and the game as a whole.
Dirk Nowitzki might be the prototype for power forwards and centers to shoot the ball, but Kevin Durant is arguably the best example of a tall player going beyond their height. According to Turner, he and his friends always looked up to KD.
“Obviously being from the area (Dallas), it was fun for all 7-footers to step outside and shoot like Dirk… LaMarcus Aldridge was another big one being from the area,” Turner said on the Run Your Race show. “Then KD. Everybody wants to be like KD, especially growing up in Texas”
KD became the role model for many players
KD embodies the essence of an unorthodox player, standing at an imposing 6’10” or possibly even taller, as his exact height has been a subject of speculation for some time. What sets KD apart, however, is his remarkable wingspan, a distinctive attribute that he leverages to execute seemingly unstoppable shots. Most of the time, those physical traits do not add up for becoming an elite shooter but KD has worked hard in training, and honed his craft as one of the best shooters ever.
6'9'' Kevin Durant standing next to a 7'0'' DeMarcus Cousins 😳
We need answers 🤔 pic.twitter.com/kzQSV1zrG6
— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) April 10, 2023
Any time that people get to watch KD, they can see a maestro doing his work. He can dribble like the best point guards in the game and then pull up for an unstoppable jump shot. He stands as the quintessential embodiment of a pure hooper, placing minimal reliance on sheer athleticism due to his impeccable touch from every corner of the court.
This served as a monumental source of inspiration for younger players, who could look up to KD as their role model and strive to emulate his style. Turner, being one of those youngsters, shared a similar physicality, possessing long arms and a sturdy frame. He did not become the ball-handling giant like KD but he became a sweet shooter. Turner is hitting shots regularly and with that, he is even looking to be a 50-40-90 player in the 2023/24 season which will be challenging, but not unachievable.
Turner successfully took lessons from his idols
Turner looked up to three players in his formative years: Dirk, LaMarcus, and KD, all of them distinguished All-Stars. He gleaned insights from them, studying their game on film and facing them on the court. From LaMarcus, he learned the pick-and-pop, while he mirrors Dirk’s set jump shot and aspires to replicate KD’s smooth shooting motion.
Today, Turner is among the league’s premier centers, celebrated for his sharpshooting ability and rim protection prowess. Despite his 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥hood admiration for Kevin Durant, Turner has forged a distinct path, establishing himself as a one-of-a-kind big man in the NBA.
By melding lessons from his idols with his own ingenuity, Turner honed his unique style. He dedicated himself to defensive excellence, a facet not uniformly associated with his role models. Complemented by a refined jump shot, he adds a multifaceted offensive dimension to his game, all of which makes him a unique talent.
Turner has become underrated player in recent years and with his commitment to the Indiana Pacers, it can pay off if their current crop of talent hits. That is likely considering they have a franchise cornerstone point guard in Tyrese Haliburton, and with Haliburton at the helm, Pacers fans can hope for big things to come.
