Pascal Siakam

 

Pascal Siakam (born April 2, 1994), nicknamed “Spicy P,” is a Cameroonian professional basketball player for the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 m) and weighing 245 pounds (111 kg), Siakam plays as a power forward. 

 

He played college basketball for the New Mexico State Aggies before being selected by the Toronto Raptors with the 27th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. Siakam has four NBA All-Star team selections (2020, 2023, 2025, 2026), two-time All-NBA team selections, the 2019 NBA Most Improved Player of the year award, and an NBA championship with Toronto in 2019. He was named Eastern Conference Finals MVP in 2025, leading the Pacers to their first Finals appearance since 2000.

 

Early Life

 

Siakam was born in Douala, Cameroon, the youngest of four brothers, to Tchamo and Victorie Siakam. His father Tchamo, worked for a local transit company and served as mayor of Makénéné. Siakam was “hand-picked to embody his family’s Catholicism” according to his upbringing. His three older brothers, Boris, Christian, and James, all played NCAA Division I basketball in the United States at Western Kentucky, IUPUI (now IU Indianapolis), and Vanderbilt, respectively.

 

Siakam initially had a greater interest in soccer but was encouraged toward basketball by his father, who dreamed of having a son reach the NBA. He didn’t start playing organized basketball until age 17. His basketball journey began when former NBA player Luc Mbah a Moute, a fellow native of Yaoundé, Cameroon, discovered Siakam at a Basketball Without Borders camp in South Africa, where Siakam was visiting his sister.

 

Tragically, in October 2014, just before Siakam’s first college game, his father, Tchamo, was killed in a car accident. Siakam was unable to attend the funeral because he was waiting for a new U.S. visa. This devastating loss profoundly motivated Siakam’s basketball career. “His motivation was different, and his competitive spirit went up a notch,” said his college coach Marvin Menzies. “He’s the one who has to carry the torch as far as his basketball vision for his dad.“

 

High School and College Career

 

Siakam attended God’s Academy in Grand Prairie (Lewisville), Texas, a prep school where his father had helped him secure a scholarship. He was recruited by New Mexico State University coach Marvin Menzies, who recognized Siakam’s raw athleticism and potential despite his limited basketball experience.

 

At New Mexico State (2014-16), Siakam redshirted the 2013-14 season to adjust to Division I basketball. As a freshman in 2014-15, he averaged 8.0 points and 5.8 rebounds while starting 27 of 34 games, earning WAC Freshman of the Year honors.

 

As a sophomore in 2015-16, Siakam dominated the Western Athletic Conference, averaging 20.3 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game, leading the WAC in all three categories. He was named WAC Player of the Year and became a finalist for the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award. Over two seasons, Siakam amassed 1,130 points and 658 rebounds, ranking among the program’s historical leaders. Following his sophomore year, he declared for the 2016 NBA Draft.

 

NBA Career

Toronto Raptors (2016–2024)

 

On June 23, 2016, Siakam was selected 27th overall by Toronto. During his rookie season (2016-17), he averaged 4.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in 55 games while starting 38. He spent significant time with the Raptors’ G League affiliate, Toronto 905, averaging 18.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 2.2 steals in five games. He led Toronto 905 to the 2017 G League Championship and earned Finals MVP honors.

 

In his second season (2017-18), Siakam played 81 games, averaging 7.3 points and 4.5 rebounds as a productive bench player. His breakout came in 2018-19 when he averaged 16.9 points and 6.9 rebounds, emerging as a crucial two-way player for Toronto. In Game 1 of the 2019 NBA Finals against Golden State, Siakam scored 32 points, shooting 14-of-17 (82.4%) from the field, the second-highest field goal percentage in Finals history (minimum 15 attempts). He helped lead Toronto to its first NBA championship. Following the season, Siakam won the Most Improved Player Award and signed a four-year, $130 million contract extension.

 

The 2019-20 season brought Siakam’s first All-Star selection as he averaged 22.9 points and 7.3 rebounds. On December 21, 2019, he scored a career-high 52 points on 17-of-25 shooting against the Knicks. In 2020-21, he averaged 21.4 points despite missing 28 games due to injury.

 

Siakam’s best statistical season came in 2022-23 when he averaged career-highs of 24.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists while leading the NBA in minutes per game for the second consecutive season. He was named to the All-NBA Second Team and earned his second All-Star selection. On November 13, 2023, he scored 39 points with 11 rebounds and seven assists, hitting a game-winner against Washington.

 

Siakam finished his Toronto tenure ranked fifth in franchise history in points (8,875), third in rebounds (3,324), and fifth in assists (1,846). Toronto considered him family, and he considered Toronto home, establishing his PS43 Foundation there and maintaining deep community ties.

 

Indiana Pacers (2024–Present)

 

On January 17, 2024, Siakam was traded to Indiana in a three-team deal in exchange for Bruce Brown, Jordan Nwora, Kira Lewis Jr., and three first-round picks. He made his Pacers debut on January 19, recording 21 points, six rebounds, and three assists in a loss to Portland.

 

Siakam quickly integrated into Indiana’s up-tempo system. On January 25, he recorded his sixth career triple-double with 26 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists against Philadelphia. In his playoff debut with the Pacers, he posted 36 points and 13 rebounds in Game 1 against Milwaukee.

 

On July 6, 2024, Siakam signed a four-year, $189.5 million contract extension with Indiana, cementing his status as the franchise cornerstone.

 

The 2024-25 season brought Siakam’s greatest team success. He averaged 21.3 points and 7.8 rebounds during the regular season while earning his third All-Star selection. In the playoffs, Siakam elevated his game significantly. During the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks, he averaged 24.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists over six games, earning Eastern Conference Finals MVP honors and leading Indiana to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000. Though the Pacers lost to Oklahoma City in seven games, Siakam’s playoff performance cemented his status among the league’s elite.

 

On January 12, 2026, Siakam hit a game-winning 7-foot bank shot with 6.1 seconds remaining to defeat Boston 98-96, though controversy arose when officials missed an illegal screen call that prompted Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla to respond to every postgame question with “illegal screen.”

 

Through the 2025-26 season (as of February 10, 2026), Siakam is averaging 23.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game while earning his third consecutive All-Star selection. With Tyrese Haliburton out for the season and Myles Turner departed to Milwaukee, Siakam has become the Pacers’ undisputed go-to player and primary offensive option.

 

Personal Life

 

Siakam goes by the nickname “Spicy P.” In March 2025, he welcomed his first child with content creator Nizhoni Cooley. On February 14, 2023, Siakam partnered with McDonald’s Canada to create the “Siakam Swirl McFlurry,” inspired by his iconic spin move and featuring vanilla soft serve, hot fudge, and crushed red Smarties in Raptors colors. The product remained available even after his trade to Indiana.

 

Siakam established the Pascal Siakam Scholarship at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) to provide funding for students. He maintains strong ties to Toronto, where he lives and operates his PS43 Foundation. 

References

 

External Links

* Pascal Siakam on NBA.com

* Pascal Siakam on Basketball-Reference.com