Milwaukee Bucks new player Myles Turner said in an interview that being just one step away from the championship last year made him more eager to win it all.

This summer, Turner left the Indiana Pacers, where he had played for ten years, and signed a four-year, $108.9 million contract with the Milwaukee Bucks with the clear goal of helping the team regain the championship.

Turner admitted in the interview: "In the past, I always felt that the championship was far away, but when you are really so close to it, you will be driven by that feeling. We have the same beliefs and goals, which means a lot to me."

The Milwaukee Bucks signed Turner as part of their roster reshaping efforts. To free up salary cap space, they waived Damian Lillard, who was sidelined due to injury, and are now paying him in installments through a contract extension.

Team star Giannis Antetokounmpo is also full of expectations for his new partner: "I am very excited. He is one of the inside players who can cooperate perfectly with me. He can shoot three-pointers, hold the ball, defend, and is a high-quality teammate. This is a great signing."

The 29-year-old Turner averaged 15.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 156 three-pointers last season. His rim-protecting and floor-spacing abilities make him a promising successor to Brook Lopez. Coach Doc Rivers believes Turner can not only stretch the floor but also punish defenses in mismatched offenses and will assume more of a role in the playmaking process.

Recalling leaving his old club, Turner admitted that he felt reluctant: "I had the opportunity to contact all my Pacers teammates through group chat. Those brothers are like family. They have been together for many years, but they didn't realize that it was the last time you would take the same bus. But this is part of professional basketball, and I have learned to accept it over the years."