Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner recently weighed in on the debate over the modern NBA, suggesting that money is a key reason why so many “old-heads” criticize today’s players.
These days, the older generation seems increasingly critical of the league, whether it is the shift in play style, which they see as lacking the toughness and grit that defined the 1990s and early 2000s, or the enormous contracts today’s stars earn each season. The divide between eras has never felt wider.
“Bro, at the end of the day, this sh-t about our bread, right? They paved the way for us, and they are not getting their dividends,” the Bucks star forward remarked when he appeared on “Ball in the Family Podcast.”
And the reality is that Turner has a point. The NBA today is nothing like the league those past legends entered. Its global presence has skyrocketed and the rise of international stars is higher than ever. Social media visibility, worldwide merchandising, and international television rights have all funneled an enormous amount of money into the league. That kind of financial boom simply did not exist in earlier eras.
Myles Turner’s thoughts on “old-heads”
Nov 22, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center/forward Myles Turner (3) celebrates making a basket against Detroit Pistons guard Caris Levert (8) in the second half at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
“So, basically, a role player now, or maybe even a subsidiary role player is making what the superstars is making back then. So, when old heads watch us, and see a guy averaging 13, 14 points, but they getting the same bread that someone who was averaging 30 back in the day, of course they are going to feel type of way… You got to call it what it is now. We also got to show more respect as a younger hoopers to older generation,” Turner continued.
According to Basketball Reference, the average NBA salary for the 2025 to 2026 season sits at roughly $11.8M. For comparison, during the 1990 to 1991 campaign, the highest-paid player in the entire league was Patrick Ewing at $4.3M.
Nov 10, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) celebrates with Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner (3) during the third quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
That means today’s average salary is almost three times larger than the biggest individual paycheck from that era. It is also worth noting that Ewing was already a regular All-Star and the face of one of the most prominent franchises in the league at the time.
Turner also emphasized that respect has to move in both directions. While some former stars may feel frustrated watching today’s role players earn life-changing contracts, younger players must recognize that everything they enjoy now exists because earlier generations laid the foundation.