What makes a player’s time with a team video-tribute worthy?
Is it time or accolades? Is it being a fan favorite or the work one does in the community? Does team success matter?
That’s something to ponder after the Indiana Pacers “welcomed” back center Myles Turner on Monday night with a pregame video following his departure for Milwaukee as a free agent last offseason.
A good amount of boos for the Myles Turner tribute video here in Indianapolis. pic.twitter.com/Z7jEJLqt0W
— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) November 4, 2025
The Pacers showed a tribute to Myles Turner pregame. There were boos aplenty with a smattering of applause. pic.twitter.com/8s9ohDymCm
— shakeia (@curlyfro) November 4, 2025
Turner spent 10 years as a Pacer after being selected 11th in the 2015 NBA Draft. He was an All-Rookie second team selection and twice led the NBA in blocks. His 1,412 career blocks as a Pacer are a franchise record. Turner surprised some when he opted to sign with the rival Bucks after helping the Pacers reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000.
Does that reach the level of being worthy of a tribute? Perhaps, but the bar doesn’t seem high these days.
Luka Dončić’s return to Dallas was worthy of the hoopla that surrounded it, but some teams have fallen into saluting anyone who played for them and departed.
Did the Utah Jazz really need a Georges Niang tribute in 2021? The Clippers played a tribute for Patrick Beverley during a timeout in 2021. Perhaps that’s the bar. Stars receive the pregame love and role players have their love shown while the crowd is distracted.
Clippers played the video tribute for Patrick Beverley during the first timeout. He got a loud ovation in his return to LA.pic.twitter.com/8uw65qcdX2
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) November 14, 2021
Does the video tribute hurt anyone? No. But it feels like some of these video moments are more worthy of a nice applause from the crowd. I understand why the Pacers would honor Turner. Longevity and part of an Eastern Conference champion mean something, especially in a basketball-crazed market like Indianapolis.
But the more videos I see, the less special they are. With that in mind, I wonder what the Clippers have in mind for Norman Powell tonight in Los Angeles. He’s back as a member of the Miami Heat.
