Interview: Myles Turner to host charity three-point event for All-Star Weekend
All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis is slated to start on Friday, Feb. 16th. Myles Turner is embracing the ambassador role and sat down to talk about All-Star Weekend.
All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis is slated to start on Friday, Feb. 16th. Myles Turner is embracing the ambassador role and sat down to talk about the busy weekend ahead for Indiana.
With the events set to be in Indiana for the first time in decades, the Pacers have a great opportunity to showcase its city. There is no better ambassador for Indiana than someone who has played for the basketball state his entire NBA career — Myles Turner.
Myles Turner was drafted by the Indiana Pacers in 2015, and nine years later, he remains a crucial piece to the roster. Throughout his Pacers tenure, Myles has been active in the Indianapolis community through philanthropic efforts and has hosted basketball camps in his home state of Texas and Indiana.
His latest partnership with Starry, the official drink of the NBA, has allowed Indianapolis to land another cool opportunity for All-Star Weekend—a three-point event for charity. This will occur on Friday, Feb. 16th at 4:00-5:00 PM EST.
Myles Turner is encouraging all fans to show up and show out at the Indiana Convention Center on Friday night. He said, “The event is in Indiana, so I know you all can shoot”!
Myles praised Indianapolis and is excited to see what the weekend brings.
“The fact that All-Star is coming to Indy… it is dope that we finally get to immerse ourselves in it and Indy is such a great host city. Fans all around the world get to experience Indianapolis, so I am just excited to be a city ambassador and be here as long as I have to be able to represent all the things about it”
Myles Turner talks about the preparation for the NBA Skills Challenge, the Pacers’ playoff push, and how fans can get signed gear
I had the chance to speak with Myles Turner about this event, and much more. During our conversation, we spoke about the NBA trade deadline, new players, and how Myles prepares for the Skills Challenge.
How exciting is it for you to represent the Pacers at All-Star weekend during the Skills Challenge with both Bennedict Mathurin and Tyrese Haliburton?
“The Skills Challenge is my first real All-Star weekend event, outside of the Rising Stars challenge my first couple of years. I think we are all excited, and Tyrese is going to represent the city well with the three-point contest and the All-Star game. Benn is in the Rising Stars game too, so I think the team and the city are well represented”.
A natural follow-up for me (an unathletic, non-NBA player) was to ask if this trio practiced for the Skills Challenge. I would have to practice… a lot. However, Myles gives a great answer that may surprise you. Believe it or not, he is much more athletic than I am.
Have you guys been able to practice for the Skills Challenge?
“Honestly, I am just relying on instincts. I was that dude in school who would study right before the test, and it usually worked out pretty well for me. For this, I am hoping to apply the same strategy”.
This was fun to hear from the perspective of a professional athlete, and a cool look behind the curtain moment. I too would study right before the test… why give yourself time to forget what you learned?
With the Pacers trying to make a push for the playoffs, how do you feel about the team, and how do you feel about leading this young group into the postseason?
“I feel really good about our opportunity. I think we made some really good acquisitions at the NBA trade deadline, getting Pascal (Siakam) and Doug McDermott to come back. Those were two major pieces for us going forward, and two guys who have been to the playoffs… with Pascal winning it all. Adding experience to our roster was key because of our youth and we still have a ways to go before we get there, but I think everything is clicking. Once we finally fire on all cylinders and we click at the same time it can be very dangerous”.
As someone who has watched Pacers basketball for a lifetime, I had to ask what it means to have McDermott back in Indiana. Doug played three seasons with the Pacers and was part of a playoff team under Nate McMillan.
What does it mean to you to have Doug McDermott back in Indiana?
“Doug is my guy man, I am a big fan of Doug, and I always have been. He’s a better human than anything and obviously a hell of a basketball player. He was one of my favorite players to watch in college, and one of my favorite teammates (when McMillan was coaching). He’s back (in Indiana) and he is a sniper man, he is going to help us. Indiana has a lot to be excited about with him”.
Lastly, I wanted to allow Myles to share how he got involved with Gleaners Food Bank, and how they plan to help others in need with this event on Friday.
“Starry is a brand partner of mine and the official partner of the NBA and All-Star Weekend. So what we have done is, we are partnering with Gleaners Food Bank, which is the largest relief organization in Indiana. Food insecurity and homelessness are things that hit close to my heart. We partnered together and we want anybody to come out to the Indiana Convention Center on Friday with the goal of making 100 threes in that hour period (4-5 PM). Once we hit 100 threes, we are going to be donating $33,000 to Gleaners Food Bank”.
It is a cool charity with great benefits, and fans who attend will get some cool gear as well. The first 50 who arrive (in PACERS gear). Myles cares about the community and an opportunity for fans to join him in the donation effort.
“The first 50 fans that show up, in Pacers gear, will get a signed photo of myself, and I think it will be a cool way for me to get out there and immerse myself in the community. It is all about showing love at the end of the day. I want people to come out to Indianapolis and know that All-Star Weekend here is no fluke and that we are a great host city”
You heard Myles. Show up at the Indiana Convention Center and enjoy basketball on the all-new LED NBA court. This is a great cause and something fans can have a blast doing to add to All-Star Weekend.
We are officially just days away from the All-Star festivities, and I am sure everyone will be tuning in. Indianapolis is about to get crazy.