In a moment that perfectly mirrored the kind of wide-open layup Myles Turner would never miss, the NBA managed to do exactly that — fumble a golden opportunity to spotlight one of its most underrated stars during the 2025-26 schedule release.
Every August, the league’s schedule reveal is a carefully orchestrated media spectacle: flashy videos, social media crossovers, cryptic puzzles, and endless team-produced content meant to fuel hype and headlines. This year, franchises pulled out all the stops — the Miami Heat unveiled their season via an elaborate heist parody, while the Lakers opted for a cinematic trailer voiced by Morgan Freeman. Amid the glitz, one glaring omission stood out: the Indiana Pacers — and more specifically, their anchor, Myles Turner.
Turner, now entering his 11th season, has quietly been the backbone of Indiana basketball. He’s led the league in blocks twice, stretched the floor with his three-point shot, and evolved into one of the most switchable defenders in the game. His impact isn’t loud, but it’s consistent — the kind that wins playoff games and keeps small-market teams competitive.
So when the league released its slate of marquee matchups — Christmas Day games, Opening Night features, Rivals Week — there was a strange silence around Indiana. No nationally televised games until mid-January. No spotlight matchups against Eastern Conference elites. And not a single mention of Turner in any promotional material.
It wasn’t just a snub. It was a strategic misfire.
This was the perfect season to feature Turner. Fresh off a career year where he averaged 18.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game while shooting a crisp 38% from beyond the arc, he had anchored the Pacers to a surprising Eastern Conference Finals run. Alongside rising star Tyrese Haliburton, Turner had helped turn the team into one of the league’s most watchable units — fast-paced, unselfish, and defensively disruptive.
Fans noticed. Analysts noticed. Yet somehow, the NBA’s marketing machine did not.
“You’ve got a guy who’s been loyal, developed his game every year, led by example, and now he’s winning — and you leave him off the map?” said a baffled J.J. Redick on NBA Countdown. “That’s not just a miss — that’s a wide-open layup the league bricked off the backboard.”
The Pacers themselves responded with subtle sarcasm. Their social media team posted a mock “Where’s Myles?” graphic — a parody of Where’s Waldo — hiding Turner’s face among hundreds of NBA players. The caption read: “We found him. Did you?”
It struck a chord.
In a league driven by narratives, the Myles Turner story — loyalty, evolution, and quiet excellence — is one worth telling. And with the Pacers poised for another deep playoff push, it’s likely the NBA will get another shot to shine the spotlight on their overlooked star.
They’d better not miss the next one.
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