Basketball
From NBA rookie to All-Star in 4 years: Pascal Siakam is all inspiration
Only picking up basketball at the age of 17, Pascal Siakam’s incredible talent has taken him to an NBA title with the Toronto Raptors inside 10 years.
He might not have started playing organised basketball until he was 17-years-old – after growing up the only soccer-mad one of six siblings in Cameroon – but Pascal Siakam has emerged as a feared power forward, playing a crucial role in the Toronto Raptors first NBA title win in 2019.
The 2.1m-tall player was seemingly destined to become a Catholic priest after being enrolled in a seminary school by his father, but an invite to a Basketball Without Borders camp in South Africa at the age of 16 changed his future forever. From there, Siakam earned a scholarship to a prep school in Texas and later played college basketball at New Mexico Stat, before being picked 27th by the Raptors in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft.
He was named the NBA D-League Finals MVP in 2017 before he got his chance on court with the elite Raptors team in the NBA proper. After becoming an important player off the bench in the 2017–18 season, Siakam made a giant step up to become the NBA's Most Improved Player in 2019, as Toronto went all-in for their first title.
From a seminary in Cameroon to the NBA, Pascal Siakam is a real rising star
© Charlie Lindsay/Red Bull Content Pool
Siakam's signature spin move progressed his game and helped him score 32 points alone in the 2019 NBA Finals opening game against the Golden State Warriors, giving them a precious opening home-court victory that set them up for that historic championship win.
The same season, Siakam also received the NBA’s Community Assist Award for his work with the Right To Play organisation, local schools, charities and the league's Basketball Without Borders program that gave him his break. Read on to find out more about this incredible player and his incredible story.
Basketball wasn't your first love, but soccer. What position were you and were you any good?
I was a striker. Soccer is really big in Africa and it was the first sport that I really loved – and I still do. I was pretty good. I think I would probably have played professionally if I'd stayed at it.
Is it fair to say you were the least interested in basketball out of your brothers?
All my brothers are older and started playing basketball before I was really into it. I guess because it was their thing I stayed more interested in other stuff, until I attended the Basketball Without Boarders camp.
When did you first play organised basketball for the first time and what clicked at that point?
I first played organised basketball when I was 17, after joining Basketball Without Borders. I earned an opportunity to attend prep school in the US and that was the beginning of everything.
Can you tell us about potentially becoming a Catholic priest. How did that come about?
I joined a boarding school to become a priest aged 11. After I went to Basketball Without Borders and was able to come to the US for school, my dad thought that was a better opportunity for my future, because then I could get a scholarship for college with basketball. Education for my siblings and me was always most important to my parents.
2.1m-tall and boasting a massive wingspan, Siakam was made for the NBA
© Charlie Lindsay/Red Bull Content Pool
How important is your family to you? I believe they’re central to your jersey number 43…
My family is the most important thing to me. I feel really lucky to have such a supportive family. My father has passed on, but my three brothers, two sisters and, of course, my mom are the most important people in my life and I really treasure our relationship.
My number 43 is to honour my family. The four is for my dad and brothers Boris, Christian and James, and the three for my mom and sisters Raissa and Vanessa. Before every game I pound my chest four times, then three times, then point to God.
I feel like Africa has the most untapped talent in the world
The ultimate in basketball is to be an NBA champion, so how special was that Raptors season?
That was incredible! Of course, every player wants to win a championship, but it was extra special to win for Toronto and all of Canada really. To bring that first championship trophy home and our team – those guys are my brothers forever, too. We went through a lot together and it was great to end the season as the best in the world. I'm also grateful to win a championship early in my career – it makes me want more.
As an individual, how special was it to make the All Star Team?
I'm super grateful and proud of every accolade and accomplishment. I work really hard to get better and contribute to a winning team, so it feels good to achieve success.
We've seen some fantastic players from Africa in the NBA. Does it still feel like there's a lot of untapped talent on the continent and do you hope you can inspire others to rise through the ranks?
Of course. I feel like Africa has the most untapped talent in the world. I'm proud to be an African player and hopefully an example for the new rising talent from Cameroon and all over the continent. I was blessed enough to win a championship in Toronto and hopefully the visibility of being an NBA champion inspires others.
And going back to your own career, it's still early days, so what else is there left for you to achieve in the game?
To win more championships and make an impact with my foundation in Canada and Africa.