Pacers Myles Turner compares $30 million teammate to Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan after W vs defending champs
Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner watched from the sidelines as his team outlasted the Boston Celtics 135-132 in overtime on Wednesday. Pascal Siakam scored the last five points in the game to end Indiana’s three-game losing streak. The Pacers also handed the defending champs their first loss of the season.
Siakam was the hero, but Bennedict Mathurin, who signed a $30 million contract with the team in 2022, carried the Pacers for long stretches. The backup shooting guard scattered a team-high 30 points with 11 rebounds and four assists. Mathurin also held his own defensively against reigning NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown.
After the game, Turner shared a photo on X (formerly Twitter) of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant with Mathurin in the middle. The post didn’t have a caption, but the message was clear: He compared his teammate to two of the best shooting guards in the history of the NBA.
Drawing comparisons between Mathurin and legends like Jordan and Bryant after just one standout game may be a stretch, especially as the third-year guard has yet to achieve anything substantial. Still, even so, Myles Turner couldn’t contain his excitement following his teammate’s game-changing performance.
The Pacers reached the Eastern Conference finals last season with Mathurin out. The athletic guard tore his right labrum early in March. He had to watch from the sidelines as the Boston Celtics swept the Pacers out of the playoffs.
Myles Turner couldn't help the Pacers against the Celtics due to an injury
Myles Turner was ruled out for the marquee matchup against the Boston Celtics due to a sprained ankle. He suffered the injury on Monday in the Indiana Pacers’ 119-115 loss to the Orlando Magic. Turner played 26 minutes in that game and finished with 13 points and five rebounds.
The injury isn’t serious, but the Pacers have not given a definite timeline for Turner’s return. Rick Carlisle told reporters before the game against the Celtics that Turner was considered day-to-day.
Turner’s next chance to play will be on Friday when the Pacers travel to New Orleans to take on the Pelicans.