It was Monday night in Minneapolis this week when Evan Turner grabbed an offensive rebound in the fourth quarter of the Trail Blazers’ win against the Timberwolves, sending the Blazers’ bench into a whooping, hollering and towel-waving frenzy.



Ostensibly, the ruckus from the Blazers’ players was rooted in Turner securing a triple-double, the fourth of his career and his first since joining Portland three seasons ago.



But in truth, there was something much deeper behind those cheers.



Inside the Blazers’ locker room, Turner is held with almost as much regard as team captain Damian Lillard.



“We all love him,” Zach Collins said.



They love him because throughout his time in Portland, but in particular this season, Turner has revealed himself in personal and touching ways, in the process becoming the catalyst for the team’s renowned chemistry.



In September, he invited rookies Anfernee Simons and...