Pascal Siakam

I first became interested in Pascal Siakam when I was watching the 2019 NBA Finals. I saw the intensity with which he played, always having a giant smile on his face. I saw that he was a fierce competitor that desired to win. All to make his father proud.

Pascal Siakam is a professional basketball player for the Toronto Raptors, sometimes referred to as Spicy P. He is about to play his fifth season in the NBA. Pascal stands at a height of 6 feet 9 inches, weighs 230 pounds, and has a wingspan of 7 feet 3 inches. Pascal is known for his energy on court and can always be seen with a smile on his face. (Siakam)

Pascal Siakam was born in Douala, Cameroon on April 2nd, 1994. He is the youngest of four brothers. Pascal’s family loved basketball but he was never initially as passionate about it as his brothers. When he was 11, his parents, Tchamo and Victorie, wanted him to become a Catholic priest for the family. With his father’s wishes in mind, he went to St. Andrew’s Catholic school. He had heard awful stories about seminary school and did not want to go. By the time Pascal was 15, he realized he did not want to be a priest and would often misbehave in class. Reluctantly, Pascal graduated from St. Andrew’s in 2012. (MacMullan and Siakam)

My brothers had all told me terrible stories about the seminary. The food was awful. The classes were hard. You had to wake up at 5:30 every morning. You were all alone, far away from your family and home. Even though the seminary I was going to was different from the one my brothers went to, I still didn’t want to go! So, as bravely as possible, I tried to stand up to my father.
–Pascal Siakam

St. Andrew’s basketball court courtesy of Adrienne Suprenant

For most of his life, Pascal Siakam desired to be a professional soccer player, having little interest to play basketball (Moore). However, in the summer of 2012, Pascal attended Mbah a Moute’s free basketball camp. There, he distinguished himself as a basketball player due to his competitiveness and athleticism. With this, the coaches selected him to participate in Basketball Without Borders, an NBA organized program that develops young talent. Once again, Pascal exhibited great effort which translated into a scholarship to play basketball at God’s Academy in Lewisville, Texas. (MacMullan)

Pascal Siakam participating in Basketball Without Borders courtesy of NBA Africa Twitter

Pascal was not a priority recruit out of God’s Academy. However, he did manage to get an offer from New Mexico State University. His first year, Pascal had to redshirt due to some academic challenges, meaning he could only practice with the team. During this time, his father passed away from a car accident. His father’s untimely death evoked a new flame in Pascal. He was playing for his dad, trying to fulfill the dream that one of his sons would make it to the NBA. He started the next two years at NMSU and was named the WAC Freshman of the Year in 2015 and WAC Player of Year in 2016. He decided it was time to declare for the NBA draft. (Peters and MacMullan)

Inside of me, a new fire was burning. I wasn’t worried about proving people wrong anymore, or working to get back at the guys who had beaten on me. I was playing for my dad now. I was playing for his dream of having a son in the NBA. I wanted to make him proud and give him this gift.
–Pascal Siakam

Pascal Siakam playing for New Mexico State courtesy of *Kevin Jairaj*

Taking on the NBA was a completely new challenge. Pascal was drafted 27th by the Toronto Raptors in the 2016 NBA draft. He made his dad’s dream come true. Pascal’s first game he ever played was also the first NBA game he had ever attended. He began his rookie season as a starter. However, he was replaced by Lucas Nogueira in the starting lineup and was sent down to the D-League. There, Pascal once again overcame the odds and took his D-League team, 905 Raptors, to win the NBA D-League Finals, being named Final’s MVP. His professional basketball career was just beginning. (Siakam and MacMullan)

Pascal Siakam hyping up the Toronto Raptors courtesy of the NBA

Pascal continued to develop as an NBA player. As a bench player, the team’s offensive rating was better with him on the court than without him. His averages in all stats continued to climb. Finally, in the 2018-2019 season, Pascal helped his team take on the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. The Toronto Raptors beat the Golden State Warriors 4-2. Pascal was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player and signed a four year $130,000,000 contract to continue to play for Toronto. (Zillgitt).

Toronto Raptors winning the 2019 NBA Finals courtesy of Jack Arent

Amazingly, Pascal is just beginning his NBA career. With his energy and strength, he has overcome so many challenges to better himself and will continue to climb to the top of the NBA. Challenge fuels Pascal, driving him to success in whatever goal he sets for himself. He has already made his father proud looking down in heaven, but will continue to do more.

Every time I enter the game, I touch the number 4 on my jersey four times for my dad and three brothers, then I touch the number 3 three times for my mom and two sisters, then I cross myself for God and point up to the sky. I know my dad is watching.
–Pascal Siakam