Myles Turner shocked the basketball world when he left the Indiana Pacers to join the Milwaukee Bucks. The move stung even more for Indiana fans already dealing with the news that Tyrese Haliburton will miss the 2024-25 season. But Turner’s departure to a division rival? That cuts deeper.
Among those who took issue with Turner’s decision is his now-former teammate, Bennedict Mathurin, who decided to send a message through social media that spoke louder than words.
What Did Bennedict Mathurin Post About Myles Turner?
After Turner’s signing with the Bucks became official, Mathurin took to his Instagram account to share a picture of him dunking on Turner during practice. Ethan Talks Games’ X account captured the post and shared it with fans.
Mathurin just posted a picture of himself dunking on Myles 😅 pic.twitter.com/jOWZKl8pUB
— Ethan Talks Games (@KriegerSouls) July 8, 2025
The timing of this post wasn’t coincidental. Mathurin and Turner were teammates from 2022 to 2025, and together they helped the Pacers reach two Eastern Conference Finals and the NBA Finals just a month ago. The shared history makes this social media move even more pointed.
There’s no telling if this is all in good fun or if Mathurin is letting Turner know he’s taking his departure personally. Turner didn’t just leave Indiana after their most successful playoff run since 2000. He joined their rival. No one should blame Mathurin if it’s the latter.
How Does This Impact the Pacers-Bucks Rivalry?
Turner was actually one of the few players in the NBA who had stayed with the team that drafted him the longest. Having been drafted by Indiana in 2015, only Stephen Curry and Joel Embiid have stayed with their teams longer. Nikola Jokić was technically drafted by Denver in 2014, but didn’t come over to the NBA until the following year.
This move adds another layer to the Bucks-Pacers’ growing rivalry. The two teams have faced off over the last two postseasons, with Indiana coming away victorious both times. Turner crossing over to Milwaukee will only add more fuel to the fire when these teams meet again.
The irony is that, for years, Turner was on the trade rumor mill, but the Pacers never pulled the trigger. Their patience paid off in the end, but by the time it did, Turner had gone elsewhere. When it felt like Indiana had the power, Turner pulled a reverse Uno card.
Looking ahead to the 2025-26 season, the Bucks will face the Pacers without Haliburton on the court, so it’s fair to suggest that the matchups won’t be at full strength. However, come the 2026-27 season, everyone better expect there to be some real tension between these two division foes.
