Myles Turner changed teams last summer. He didn’t know it at the time, but he was also changing cultures.
Turner signed a four-year, $108 million free agent contract with the Milwaukee Bucks, leaving the Indiana Pacers after 10 seasons.
On his “Game Recognize Game” podcast with WNBA star Breanna Stewart, Turner said it didn’t take long for him to learn the Bucks ran things differently.
“(Coach) Doc Rivers, he didn’t fine anybody,” Turner said. “Guys were late all the time. Guys showed up to (watch) film whenever they wanted to show up. Guys were missing meetings. It was one of the craziest things I’ve ever experienced.
“If the plane took off at 2 o’clock, we weren’t leaving until 4:30. I’m being so serious, bro. It was crazy. It got to the point where I knew not to show up until an hour after they said the plane was taking off.”
Turner said the relaxed attitude toward details started at the top of the roster.
“Giannis (Antetokounmpo) showed up whenever he wants, really. I think that this just kind of came with the territory,” Turner said. “Once I saw what was going down, I just said, ‘Man, more power to you.'”
The Bucks finished 32-50, missing the playoffs. Rivers has been replaced Taylor Jenkins, who previously coached the Memphis Grizzlies for six seasons.
Milwaukee has reportedly been listening to trade offers for Antetokounmpo, a two-time league MVP who has played there for 13 seasons.
Stewart noted that the New York Liberty assess fines on missed box outs on free throws. Turner said he would welcome that kind of scrutiny.
“Honestly, that’s a good one,” he said. “I’m not mad at that at all.”
Dustin Dopirak covers the Pacers all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Pacers Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Myles Turner says Giannis Antotekounmpo ‘showed up whenever he wants’ for Bucks
Reporting by Scott Horner, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
