Pascal Siakam facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Pascal Siakam

Siakam with the Indiana Pacers in 2025
No. 43 – Indiana Pacers
Power forward
Personal information
Born	(1994-04-02) 2 April 1994 (age 31) Douala, Cameroon
High school	God's Academy (Lewisville, Texas)
Listed height	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight	245 lb (111 kg)
Career information
College	New Mexico State (2014–2016)
NBA Draft	2016 / Round: 1 / Pick: 27th overall
Selected by the Toronto Raptors
Pro career	2016–present
League	NBA
Career history
2016–2024	Toronto Raptors
2017	→Raptors 905
2024–present	Indiana Pacers
Career highlights and awards
NBA champion (2019) 3× NBA All-Star (2020, 2023, 2025) All-NBA Second Team (2020) All-NBA Third Team (2022) NBA Most Improved Player (2019) NBA D-League champion (2017) NBA D-League Finals MVP (2017) AP Honorable mention All-American (2016) WAC Player of the Year (2016) 2× First-team All-WAC (2015, 2016) WAC Freshman of the Year (2015)

Pascal Siakam (born April 2, 1994) is a professional basketball player from Cameroon. He plays for the Indiana Pacers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Siakam is a three-time NBA All-Star and has been named to the All-NBA Team twice. He won an NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019.

People often call him "Spicy P." Siakam played college basketball for the New Mexico State Aggies. He was named the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2016. The Toronto Raptors picked him 27th overall in the first round of the 2016 NBA draft.

As a rookie in 2017, Siakam played for the NBA Development League (now G League). He led Toronto's team to a league championship. He also won the Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. In 2019, he was named the NBA Most Improved Player. He was the first player to win this award and an NBA title in the same season.

The next year, Siakam helped Toronto achieve one of the best records in the league. He was named to the All-NBA Second Team. He also started in his first NBA All-Star Game. He was the first player to play in the G League and then start an All-Star game. After another All-Star selection in 2023, Siakam joined the Pacers in 2024. In 2025, he became an All-Star for the third time. He also won the Eastern Conference Finals MVP award. This helped his team reach the NBA Finals for the second time.

Early Life and Basketball Start

Pascal Siakam was born in Douala, Cameroon. His parents are Tchamo and Victorie Siakam. He was the youngest of four brothers. His father, Tchamo, worked for a local company. He was also the mayor of Makénéné.

Pascal did not like basketball much at first. This was different from his older brothers. They all earned scholarships to play basketball in college. A basketball scout named Luc Mbah a Moute found Siakam. Mbah a Moute's family lived near Siakam's seminary.

Siakam went to Mbah a Moute's camp in 2011. He went again in 2012. After that, he was chosen for the Basketball Without Borders camp. Even with little basketball experience, he showed great energy. He was also very athletic. Masai Ujiri, a Raptors executive, remembered his effort.

With Mbah a Moute's help, Siakam moved to the United States at age 18. He trained at different camps. Then he settled in Lewisville, Texas. He attended God's Academy there. New Mexico State University noticed him. Their coach, Marvin Menzies, had connections worldwide. He had many international players on his team.

College Basketball Journey

Siakam started at New Mexico State University in 2013. He did not play in the 2013–14 season because of an injury. This is called "redshirting." He then earned a spot in the Aggies' starting lineup.

In the 2014–15 season, he was named Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Freshman of the Year. For the 2015–16 season, he played 34 games. He averaged 20.2 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks. He was named WAC Player of the Year. On April 19, 2016, Siakam decided to enter the NBA draft. He gave up his last two years of college.

Professional Basketball Career

Toronto Raptors (2016–2024)

Becoming a G-League Champion

On June 23, 2016, the Toronto Raptors picked Siakam. He was the 27th player chosen in the 2016 NBA draft. He signed his first contract with the team on July 9. On October 26, he became the first rookie since 2012 to start for the Raptors on opening night. He had 9 rebounds and 4 points in 21 minutes. Toronto won against the Detroit Pistons. This was his first NBA game, and also the first NBA game he had ever seen in person.

In his first season, Siakam started 38 games as a power forward. This happened because another player, Jared Sullinger, was injured. From February to April 2017, he played for both the Raptors and their G-League team, the Raptors 905. He helped the Raptors 905 win a championship. They beat the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. Siakam averaged 23 points and 9 rebounds in that series. He was named the G-League Finals MVP.

Improving in His Second Year

Siakam in 2018

In his second NBA year, Siakam became a key player off the bench. On October 25, 2017, he scored a career-high 20 points. This was during a loss to the Golden State Warriors. His average points per game went up from 4.3 to 7.3. His rebounds increased from 3.4 to 4.5. His assists also improved from 0.3 to 2.0. People started comparing him to Draymond Green. This was because he could guard many different positions. He also showed great basketball smarts and confidence.

NBA Champion and Most Improved Player

Siakam during the 2019 NBA Finals

The 2018–19 season was a huge year for Siakam. He became a strong player on both offense and defense. He averaged 16.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.1 assists. His three-point shooting also got much better. On October 29, 2018, he scored 22 points. This was a new career high. On November 10, he set another career high with 23 points. He was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week.

On January 13, Siakam had 24 points and a career-high 19 rebounds. This helped the Raptors win a double-overtime game. On February 13, he scored a new career-high 44 points. He also made 4 three-pointers. He was the 11th Raptors player to score 40 points in a game.

In the 2019 playoffs, Siakam played a big role. He scored 30 points and had 11 rebounds in a win against the Orlando Magic. In the next round, he had 29 points against the Philadelphia 76ers. In the Eastern Conference Finals, he helped Toronto beat the Milwaukee Bucks. The Raptors then reached the NBA Finals for the first time ever.

In Game 1 of the 2019 Finals, Siakam scored 32 points. He also had 8 rebounds and 5 assists. This helped the Raptors beat the Golden State Warriors. In Game 6, Siakam scored 26 points and had 10 rebounds. He made the shot that sealed the championship. The Raptors won their first NBA championship in franchise history. Later that month, Siakam was named the NBA's Most Improved Player. In October 2019, he signed a big contract extension with Toronto.

First All-Star and All-NBA Appearances

Siakam started the 2019–20 season strong. He had 34 points and 18 rebounds in the first game. The Raptors beat the New Orleans Pelicans. On November 8, he scored a career-high 44 points against the Pelicans. He also scored 36 points against the Portland Trail Blazers.

On January 23, 2020, Siakam was chosen for his first All-Star Game. He was named a starter. He became the first player from the G-League to start in an All-Star game. On September 16, Siakam was named to the All-NBA Second Team.

Playing in Tampa and Growing as a Player

In the 2020–21 season, Siakam continued to improve. On January 8, 2021, he had 17 points, 9 rebounds, and a career-high 12 assists. On January 11, he got his first career triple-double. He had 22 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists. On May 2, Siakam scored a season-high 39 points. He also had 13 rebounds. On May 6, he tied his career-high with 44 points.

Second All-NBA Selection

Siakam returned from surgery on November 7, 2021. He scored 15 points in his season debut. On December 31, he had 25 points, a season-high 19 rebounds, and 7 assists. On January 5, 2022, Siakam scored 33 points against the Milwaukee Bucks.

On February 7, Siakam was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week. He averaged 25 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. He helped Toronto win all four games that week. On February 9, he led Toronto to their seventh straight win. He had 27 points, 16 rebounds, and 5 assists. Siakam broke Chris Bosh's record for games with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists.

On March 28, Siakam scored 40 points, a season high. He also had 13 rebounds. On April 7, he recorded his third career triple-double. He had 37 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 assists. Fans chanted "MVP" for him. Siakam finished the season with career highs in rebounds, assists, and steals.

In the 2022 playoffs, Siakam played well. He scored a playoff career-high 34 points in Game 4. He helped Toronto win Game 5 after being down 0–3 in the series. On May 24, Siakam was named to the All-NBA Third Team. This was his second All-NBA selection. He tied Vince Carter and DeMar DeRozan for the most All-NBA selections in Raptors history.

Second All-Star Selection

On October 19, 2022, Siakam had 23 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 steals. This helped the Raptors win their season opener. On October 21, Siakam recorded his fourth career triple-double. He had 37 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists. He became the first Raptors player with multiple 30-point triple-doubles.

On November 2, Siakam recorded his fifth career triple-double. He had 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists. On December 21, Siakam scored a career-high 52 points. This was tied for the second-most points by a Raptors player in a game. On December 26, Siakam was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week. He averaged 38.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.3 assists.

On February 10, 2023, Siakam was named an NBA All-Star for the second time. He replaced the injured Kevin Durant. On April 2, Siakam had 36 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists. Siakam finished the season with career highs of 24.2 points and 5.8 assists per game. In the play-in tournament, Siakam scored 32 points.

Final Season with Toronto

Siakam's offense started slowly in the 2023–24 season. However, on November 8, 2023, he led the Raptors to a win. He had 31 points and 12 rebounds. On November 13, Siakam scored a season-high 39 points. He also had 11 rebounds and 7 assists. He made the game-winning shot. On November 22, he had 36 points and 10 rebounds. By the time he left the Raptors, Siakam was averaging 22.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists.

Indiana Pacers (2024–present)

Reaching the Eastern Conference Finals

On January 17, 2024, Siakam was traded to the Indiana Pacers. This was a three-team trade. Two days later, on January 19, Siakam played his first game for the Pacers. He had 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists. On January 25, Siakam recorded his sixth career triple-double. He had 26 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists. The next day, he scored 31 points.

In Game 1 of the 2024 playoffs, Siakam scored a playoff career-high 36 points. He also had 13 rebounds. In Game 2, he scored 37 points. The Pacers beat the Knicks in 7 games. This sent them to the Eastern Conference Finals. It was the team's first time there since 2014. The Pacers lost the series to the eventual NBA champion Celtics.

Third All-Star Selection and Second Finals Appearance

On July 8, 2024, Siakam signed a new four-year contract with the Pacers. On October 30, he scored 29 points. He also made a game-winning shot in overtime against the Boston Celtics. On January 29, 2025, Siakam scored a season-high 37 points. On January 30, Siakam was named an All-Star reserve. This was his third All-Star selection.

In Game 2 of the 2025 playoffs, Siakam had 24 points and 11 rebounds. On May 13, Siakam had 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. This helped the Indiana Pacers reach their second straight Eastern Conference Finals. In Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Siakam scored a playoff career-high 39 points. The Pacers took a 2–0 series lead against the New York Knicks. In Game 4, Siakam scored 30 points.

Siakam had 31 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists in Game 6. This helped the Pacers win and reach the NBA Finals. It was his second time in the Finals. It was also the Pacers' first appearance since 2000. He was named the Eastern Conference Finals MVP. He averaged 24.8 points per game in that series. In the Finals, Siakam led the Pacers in scoring and rebounding. However, they lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games.

Player Skills

Siakam came into the NBA as a player who needed to learn a lot. But over the years, he became a top player. He can play both offense and defense very well. He can also pass the ball and score points. He plays different roles depending on what his team needs. Siakam is known as one of the NBA's most flexible players.

In the 2021–22 season, Siakam even started games as a center and point guard. He showed he could understand defenses and make smart passes. He averaged a career-high 5.3 assists per game. Siakam is also considered one of the best defenders in the NBA. He can guard players from all positions. He is good at blocking shots near the basket. He is also an excellent defender on the outside. Plus, Siakam has always been known for being great at fast breaks.

Career Statistics

NBA

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2016–17	Toronto	55	38	15.6	.502	.143	.688	3.4	.3	.5	.8	4.2
2017–18	Toronto	81	5	20.7	.508	.220	.621	4.5	2.0	.8	.5	7.3
2018–19	Toronto	80	79	31.8	.549	.369	.785	6.9	3.1	.9	.7	16.9
2019–20	Toronto	60	60	35.2	.453	.359	.792	7.3	3.5	1.0	.9	22.9
2020–21	Toronto	56	56	35.8	.455	.297	.827	7.2	4.5	1.1	.7	21.4
2021–22	Toronto	68	68	37.9*	.494	.344	.749	8.5	5.3	1.3	.6	22.8
2022–23	Toronto	71	71	37.4*	.480	.324	.774	7.8	5.8	.9	.5	24.2
2023–24	Toronto	39	39	34.7	.522	.317	.758	6.3	4.9	.8	.3	22.2
Indiana	41	41	31.8	.549	.386	.699	7.8	3.7	.8	.4	21.3
2024–25	Indiana	78	78	32.7	.519	.389	.734	6.9	3.4	.9	.5	20.2
Career		629	535	31.2	.499	.339	.763	6.7	3.6	.9	.6	18.0
All-Star		3	2	14.0	.750	.000	.500	5.0	2.0	1.0	.0	10.3

Playoffs

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2017	Toronto	2	0	5.0	.000	—	—	1.5	.5	.5	.0	.0
2018	Toronto	10	0	17.9	.610	.750	.650	3.6	.8	.1	.6	6.6
2019	Toronto	24*	24*	37.1	.470	.279	.759	7.1	2.8	1.0	.7	19.0
2020	Toronto	11	11	38.0	.396	.189	.717	7.5	3.8	1.1	.4	17.0
2022	Toronto	6	6	43.4	.477	.235	.861	7.2	5.8	1.2	1.0	22.8
2024	Indiana	17	17	35.4	.541	.298	.619	7.5	3.8	.8	.4	21.6
2025	Indiana	23*	23*	33.5	.513	.427	.713	6.3	3.4	1.2	.7	20.5
Career		93	81	33.7	.490	.309	.719	6.6	3.2	.9	.6	18.1

College

Personal Life

Pascal Siakam's father, Tchamo Siakam, was the former mayor of Makénéné, Cameroon. His mother is Victorie Siakam. When his father passed away in a car accident in October 2014, Pascal could not go to the funeral. He was waiting for a new US visa. His three older brothers, Boris, Christian, and James, all played college basketball in the United States. Pascal is known by his nickname "Spicy P."

Partnerships

On February 14, 2023, Siakam teamed up with McDonald's Canada. They created a special McFlurry called the Siakam Swirl McFlurry. It was inspired by Siakam's famous spin move and the Raptors' team colors. It had vanilla soft serve, hot fudge, and crushed red Smarties. This special treat was only available in Canada. Siakam also partnered with the University of New Brunswick (UNB). They created the Pascal Siakam Scholarship. This scholarship helps students from Cameroon who study technology at UNB.

See also

In Spanish: Pascal Siakam para niños