Pascal Siakam

a single season with 8 after a triple-double 33 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists on Valentine’s Day win over the Thunder.[50]

Born in Douala, Cameroon, on 2 April 1994, Pascal Siakam is the youngest of four brothers. A lifelong devotee of sports, basketball was not always Siakam’s first choice. His father, Tchamo Siakam, who lived a dual career journey as a transit company employee and mayor of Makénéné, had a different plan in mind for his son. Tchamo wanted Pascal to embrace the family’s deeply-held Catholic faith and enrolled 11-year-old Pascal in St. Andrew’s Seminary in Bafia. Siakam’s journey here would take a remarkable turn when NBA player Luc Mbah a Moute noticed him at a local camp and introduced him to basketball.

By the age of 18, driven by a newfound love for basketball and inspired by Mbah a Moute’s mentorship, Siakam found himself relocating to the United States. His journey took him first to a preparatory school, God’s Academy, in Texas. It was here that New Mexico State University scouts noticed his unique athletic skills, leading to his enrollment in their basketball program in 2013.

New Mexico State was the stepping stone Siakam needed to propel his career. Despite suffering a season-stopping injury in his 2013 debut year, Siakam earned the title of Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Freshman of the Year in the 2014-2015 season and went on to win the WAC Player of the Year honors during the 2015-2016 campaign.

Siakam’s striking college basketball performances led him to get selected by the Toronto Raptors with the 27th overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft. Although his rookie year was a little shaky, with him being assigned alternately to the Raptors 905 of the G-League and being recalled from it, Siakam made significant strides in his career. In addition to leading the Raptors’ affiliate team to an NBA Development League championship, Siakam also received the Finals Most Valuable Player honors.

The hard work continued into Siakam’s second year with the Raptors, during which he established himself as a solid fixture on the bench. His performance eventually led him to earn comparisons with Warriors’ forward, Draymond Green. In 2018, Siakam’s career gained further traction as he became a two-way force, boasting an impressive record of 16.9 points per game, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.1 assists.

The 2019 season proved to be a golden year for Siakam and the Raptors. Not only did Siakam’s exceptional performance lead the Raptors to their first NBA championship, but he was also named the NBA’s Most Improved Player, making him the first player to win both accolades in the same season.

Siakam’s career didn’t falter following the Raptors’ championship victory. He signed a lucrative four-year, $130 million extension with Toronto and continued to dominate the court, even getting his first career All-Star nod and starting in the 2020 NBA All-Star Game.

Despite the physical and mental pressure of being an elite athlete, Siakam showed determination by clocking in new career-highs and Triple-doubles. He constantly pushes his boundaries to improve his performance, breaking records along the way, including one held by Chris Bosh for most 20/10/5 games in a single season.

Now, firmly integrated as a professional basketball player for the Indiana Pacers, Pascal Siakam continues his journey through the NBA. A two-time NBA All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection, Siakam has remained consistently focused on honing his basketball prowess. With his extensive skill set, unwavering determination, and enduring sportsmanship, Siakam embodies the qualities emblematic of an accomplished athlete.

Pascal Siakam’s journey has been underscored by a series of twists, turns, trials, and triumphs. From his beginnings in Cameroon to his rise in the ranks of the NBA, Pascal “Spicy P” Siakam has become a symbol of resilience, determination and growth in the world of professional sports. With an NBA championship under his belt and a growing list of personal accolades, Siakam’s career today stands as a testament to the power of perseverance and dreams pursued with passion.