Myles Turner admits ‘rude awakening’ in first season with Bucks

Among 2025 free agents, no one cashed in quite like Myles Turner. Four years, $109 million from the Bucks.

Year One did not go as planned.

Turner’s numbers dipped, the wins didn’t follow, and instead of another deep playoff run, Milwaukee ended up in the lottery. Quite the shift after reaching the Finals the year before.

“It was definitely a rude awakening,” Turner told Eric Nehm of The Athletic and Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “It was difficult throughout the year, obviously, with all the injuries and whatnot.”

Still, he pointed to one thing that kept it from completely unraveling.

“The spirit of all of the guys,” he said. “Especially on the players’ side, guys had the right approach. That made it easier to go about the days.”

Fair enough. But the fit on the floor never fully clicked.

Turner isn’t a guy who creates his own offense. And with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Porter Jr. missing big chunks of the season, those easy looks just weren’t there.

Turner knows he could’ve handled some of it differently, too.

“It wasn’t easy,” he said. “I don’t want to throw Doc under the bus. … I think a lot of it was me, maybe being a little passive. Kind of acquiescing when I could’ve stepped up in a different role quicker.”

In other words, it wasn’t all on the coaching staff. But it wasn’t all on him, either.

“There was definitely a lot of frustration on both ends,” Turner added. “I think the frustration came more from not figuring it out fast enough.”

Now comes the bigger question. What’s next for Milwaukee?

If the Bucks explore moving Antetokounmpo this offseason, everything changes. Turner included. He could easily find himself back in the rumor mill if this turns into any sort of reset.

For now, though, he’s not going anywhere. At least, not by choice.

“I did sign a four-year deal,” Turner said. “I plan to honor it.”