Giannis Antetokounmpo Gives Pacers Fans Reality Check For Booing Myles Turner After 10 Years of “Blood, Sweat and Tears”

Myles Turner returned to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Monday for the first time since his trade to the Milwaukee Bucks. However, the center was met with a chorus of boos, prompting Giannis Antetokounmpo to give Pacers fans a reality check.

During a post-game interview, Antetokounmpo opened up on Turner's return while highlighting his incredible run in the league.

"Before the game, we cannot stress enough to Myles how important it was for us to win this game for him," Giannis said. "Being able to play in the NBA like the average span on the player, lifespan on the NBA player is I think 4.5 years and he played 10 years of service in one franchise."

Continuing to express his views on the subject, Antetokounmpo offered a reality check to Pacers fans for booing Turner.

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"To be able to come here in Indiana, the All-time leading block leader to be booed, for sure he might not say it but it kind of hurts. But we are here to pick him up ... I think he gave everything he had blood, sweat, tears his many times on the line for the Indiana team so for anybody that was booing Myles Turner think about yourself."

Myles Turner was drafted by the Pacers as the 11th overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft and spent 10 years with the franchise. During his tenure, he twice led the league in blocks and helped guide the Pacers to two Eastern Conference Finals appearances and an NBA Finals run last season.

However, he signed with the Milwaukee Bucks during free agency, a move that hasn't sat right with Indiana fans, despite his years of dedication and impact on the franchise.

Myles Turner expresses “love” for Indiana fans ahead of the matchup despite expecting “mixed emotions”

Myles Turner's return to Indiana was a fruitful one for him and the Milwaukee Bucks as they earned a 117-115 win at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse. However, before tipoff, Turner expressed his love for the fans, while expecting a reception of "mixed emotions."

"I think it is obviously going to be mixed views, mixed feelings and mixed emotions but for me it's always going to be love," Turner said. "I'm looking forward to seeing the fans I've known for the last 10 years."

Turner marked his return with 9 points and 7 rebounds, while Giannis Antetokounmpo's 33-point double-double earned Milwaukee their fifth win of the season.

Edited by Arian Kashyap