Myles Turner’s recent article in The Players’ Tribune, ‘It Took Me 10 Years to Write This’, is more than just a retrospective—it’s a testament to perseverance, loyalty, and the personal growth that often goes unnoticed in professional sports. As Turner reflects on his ten-year journey with the Indiana Pacers, he takes readers through the emotional highs and lows, revealing the evolving mindset of an athlete who has learned to find fulfillment beyond traditional measures of success.
Myles Turner opens his Players’ Tribune essay with the scene of a Western‑themed surprise party thrown by family and friends to celebrate 10 years in the NBA. Mid‑celebration he felt a knot in his stomach:
“This is amazing. Except … what the f** are we celebrating?”
That dissonance sets the tone for the entire piece: a star who isn’t chasing résumé lines so much as meaning.
Only 30 players in league history have spent a full decade with a single small‑market franchise; Turner is now on that list. He reminds readers that the milestone isn’t “10 years in the league,” but “10 years in one city … as an Indiana Pacer.”
It’s a love letter to Indy hoop culture—Pacers fans who painted milk‑jug loudhailers in the mid‑’90s, high‑school gyms that sell out in December, and the new generation rallying around a fast‑paced roster he helped shape.
The emotional heart of Turner’s essay comes when the trade rumour mill, injuries and losses converge:
“I’d see stuff on social media like, ‘Myles Turner is a finished product’ … and I’m not ashamed to say I got pretty depressed.”
He shares raw 2021 journal excerpts—“This is the lowest I’ve ever been … Is any of this even worth it???”—before describing the first step out of that darkness: asking for help. “Anything but isolation,” he writes, naming the family members and friends who carried him when he couldn’t carry himself.
Turner’s candour joins a growing line of pro‑athlete voices, from Kevin Love’s 2018 panic‑attack essay to Simone Biles’s Olympic withdrawal, that have reframed toughness in sport.
Where Love focused on anxiety, Turner leans into depression and the identity crisis that can follow constant “trade‑asset” talk. Together, their stories are dissolving the stigma around therapy, vulnerability and saying I’m not okay.
From the outside, success in the NBA is often equated with All-Star selections, championships, and individual accolades. Turner admits that early in his career, he viewed those markers as definitive proof of achievement. But as the years passed, he began to redefine success in his own terms—focusing on the relationships he built, the resilience he developed, and the pride he takes in representing one franchise for a full decade.
Now, as he looks back on his journey, Turner expresses gratitude for the path he has taken. He acknowledges that the past ten years have shaped him into the person he is today—not just a basketball player, but an individual who has gained a deeper understanding of himself, his values, and his place in the sport.
If you or someone you know is struggling, dial 988 in the U.S. or find international resources at findahelpline.com. The most important step, Turner reminds us, is refusing to walk that road alone
