Indiana Pacers players Paul George (L) and Myles Turner. (Photo : Getty Images)
Incoming sophomore big man Myles Turner, who is a member of Team USA's select team that is currently training with the senior squad in Las Vegas, had reportedly turned heads during the camp, including his veteran teammate Paul George.
George was all praises for Turner, saying that his senior Team USA teammates were telling him that the Pacers "got a good one" with the 20-year-old former Texas Longhorns standout.
"Myles looked really good," said George, via Basketball Insiders' Alex Kennedy. "I think the whole talk around that camp was, 'Man, you got a good one.' That's coming from all the guys on the Olympic team. Everybody was just raving of how good Myles is. He's got the respect. He's earned it from the veterans and he's going to be good. He's one of the best up-and-coming talents in the league."
The 2016 NBA All-Rookie Second Teamer had been performing impressively during the said training camp and had even blocked a lay-up by George during one of their scrimmages.
Kennedy mentioned that aside from getting the approval of the senior players, Turner is also garnering praise from journalists and NBA analysts who had been with them in the camp, with some saying that he "looked like he belonged on the actual USA Basketball roster as opposed to the Select Team".
Kennedy then said that next season could be the "breakout" year for the Bedford, Texas native as he had been exposed day in and day out to experienced NBA centers such as DeMarcus Cousins and DeAndre Jordan as well as "stars like Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler among others".
Fansided indicated that Indiana had actually retooled their roster around George and Turner, which is a major thing to say about the young big man.
The report said that George continues to be the Pacers' main man and could be considered as the "second-best player in the Eastern Conference" (behind LeBron James, of course) and "one of the 10 best players in the league" at the moment.
Turner is seen as Indiana's starter at the number four spot next season with new acquisition Al Jefferson as his main backup.
Last season, Turner averaged 10.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in 22.8 minutes of playing time per game from ex-boss Frank Vogel. For a rookie, it was an impressive stat line, especially the shot blocks category, and new coach Nate McMillan is said to be keen on building his defense off of that.
