The Indiana Pacers got off to a bit of a bumpy start to the 2024-25 NBA season, as the team found itself on a 3-game losing streak before knocking off the Boston Celtics in overtime on Wednesday night. It’s not ideal for a team that has aspirations of making it back to the Eastern Conference Finals, but it’s still very early in the season, and as we saw last year, when this team gets hot, they can take it to anyone.
Their best player to this point has been Pascal Siakam, who has looked like the exact sort of star forward the team envisioned when they acquired him midway through last season and especially after they handed him a lucrative contract extension this summer. And with the Pacers having an off night on Thursday before a matchup with the Pelicans in New Orleans on Friday, Siakam decided to have a little fun away from the court by dressing up for Halloween as Andre 3000 in the video for “Hey Ya!”
It is an absolutely fantastic costume, but Siakam wanted to take things a step farther. Not only did he dress up like 3 Stacks, he actually recreated a portion of the iconic music video.
Halloween isn’t necessarily a competition among NBA players or anything like that, but it is always fun to see the lengths guys will go to in order to have the most elaborate costume. I think we can safely say that, as of this point, Siakam has set the bar pretty high for the best costume in the league this year.
The Indiana Pacers have sent Bruce Brown, Jordan Nwora, and three first-round picks to Toronto in exchange for two-time All-Star Pascal Siakam. Siakam, averaging 22.2/6.3/4.9 this season, gives Indiana a proven tandem partner for rising star Tyrese Haliburton. At 23-17, the Pacers have the highest-scoring offense in the NBA. However, Siakam would become just their second 20-point shooter behind Haliburton. Despite the move, and the heavy price for it, the Pacers will need to work quickly on an extension, as Siakam is a free agent in the offseason.
“I’m excited that Pascal is getting a first-class opportunity with the Pacers, being paired with Tyrese [Haliburton] and Myles [Turner] and being coached by a great coach in Rick Carlisle. His future looks bright there,” Siakam’s agent, Todd Ramasar, told Andscape. Per ESPN, the Raptors received two 2024 first-round picks and another in 2026.
However, the trade was preceded by tragic news on the West Coast. The NBA has postponed a game between the Warriors and Jazz following the death of Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojevic. Milojevic, 46, suffered a heart attack in Salt Lake City on January 16 during a private team dinner and passed away the following day. Milojevic had served on Steve Kerr’s staff since 2021 and was well-regarded both within the NBA and abroad. Furthermore, at least one team interviewed Milojevic about their head coaching vacancy following the 2022/23 season.
Prior to coming to the NBA, Milojevic established himself as a proven winner in Eastern Europe. Additionally, his time coaching Serbian side Mega meant that he was closely involved with the early development of Nikola Jokic. “We are absolutely devastated by Dejan Milojević’s sudden passing. This is a shocking and tragic blow for everyone associated with the Warriors and an incredibly difficult time for his family, friends, and all of us who had the incredible pleasure to work with him. We grieve with and for his wife, Natasa, and their children, Nikola and Masa,” The Warriors wrote on social media.
Pascal Siakam is headed to the Indiana Pacers. NBA Trade season is officially underway, and the NBA Champion will now team with Tyrese Haliburton.
The Pacers acquired Siakam from the Toronto Raptors for Bruce Brown, Jordan Nwora, and three first-round picks. Sources told ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski that the New Orleans Pelicans are a third team in the deal, shipping Kira Lewis to the Raptors and a second-round pick to the Pacers.
For the season, Siakam is averaging 22.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists for the season. He can be a free agent this offseason, but the Pacers believe they can come to an extension.
“I’m excited that Pascal is getting a first class opportunity with the Pacers, being paired with Tyrese [Haliburton] and Myles [Turner] and being coached by a great coach in Rick Carlisle,” Siakam’s agent Todd Ramasar said to Andscape.
In the world of professional basketball, few stars shine as brightly as Pascal Siakam. As of 2023, the Cameroonian NBA sensation has an estimated net worth of $30 million US dollars, according to Celebrity Net Worth. But how did Siakam amass such wealth, and what makes him stand out in the competitive world of professional basketball?
Born on April 2, 1994, in Douala, Cameroon, Pascal Siakam’s journey to NBA stardom is nothing short of inspiring. He relocated to the United States, where he honed his basketball skills at God’s Academy in Lewisville, Texas. His college basketball career at New Mexico State saw him clinch titles like the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2016 and the WAC Freshman of the Year in 2015. His prowess didn’t go unnoticed, and he was soon drafted #27 overall by the Toronto Raptors.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – APRIL 02: Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors dunks the ball against the Charlotte Hornets in the third quarter during their game at Spectrum Center on April 02, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
Siakam’s NBA career has been marked by significant milestones. He played for the NBA D-League team Raptors 905 in 2017 and emerged as a D-League champion and D-League Finals MVP. His dedication and hard work bore fruit when he was named the NBA Most Improved Player in 2019. That same year, he celebrated an NBA Championship win with the Toronto Raptors. His skills and dedication to the game were further recognized in 2020 when he was named an NBA All-Star starter.
TORONTO, ON – DECEMBER 05: Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors shoots the ball during the second half of an NBA game against the Houston Rockets at Scotiabank Arena on December 05, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
Financial success in the NBA doesn’t come solely from playing on the court. Lucrative contracts and endorsements play a significant role in boosting a player’s net worth. In 2019, Siakam inked a four-year deal with the Toronto Raptors, worth a staggering $130 million. This contract undoubtedly played a pivotal role in elevating his net worth to its current estimate.
MONTREAL, QUEBEC – JUNE 19: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing meets Pascal Siakam ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on June 19, 2022 in Montreal, Quebec. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
In the grand scheme of things, Siakam’s net worth is a testament to his talent, dedication, and hard work. From his humble beginnings in Cameroon to his meteoric rise in the NBA, Siakam’s journey is a beacon of inspiration for aspiring athletes worldwide. His net worth not only reflects his success on the court but also his impact off it. Through endorsements, community work, and brand collaborations, Siakam continues to make his mark in the world of sports and beyond.
Pascal Siakam’s net worth in 2023 stands as a testament to his incredible journey and achievements in the world of professional basketball. With his talent, dedication, and the right opportunities, Siakam has carved a niche for himself in the NBA. As he continues to play and inspire, there’s no doubt that his net worth will keep rising, reflecting his growing influence in the sport and his value to the teams he plays for.
We’re just hours away from the 2023 NBA Draft in New York. Already a flurry of draft-related moves have been made, but more are sure to come. In the Eastern Conference, the Atlanta Hawks are eager to trade for the Toronto Raptor’s Pascal Siakam.
The Cameroonian power forward was a first-round draft pick for the Raptors in 2016 and has blossomed into one of the franchise’s most beloved players. A key piece in their 2019 championship, he is a fan-favorite and productive starter in Toronto. This past season, Siakam averaged a career-high 24.2 points per game.
However, the Raptors only managed a .500 record before losing to the Bulls in the Play-In Tournament. This led to the firing of five-year head coach Nick Nurse. While the Raptors made a promising hire in Darko Rajaković, the roster is in flux. Fred VanVleet could leave, and Atlanta is stepping up its pursuit of Siakam.
Final pre-draft notebook @YahooSports is live, unpacking news and notes from last night’s Kristaps Porzingis-Marcus Smart-Tyus Jones trade, plus details on Paul George, De’Andre Hunter, Pascal Siakam, the Pacers, Hawks, Lakers and more: https://t.co/8rJYIIbnmj
Per Yahoo Sports‘ Jake Fischer, talks between Atlanta and Toronto have stalled due to the Raptor’s high floor for a Siakam trade. “Atlanta has also maintained a pursuit of Raptors forward Pascal Siakam, according to league sources. The Hawks’ have attempted several creative packages to land the All-NBA talent from Toronto, including at least one three-team scenario. Opposing front offices still believe the Raptors’ high valuation of their players, such as Siakam and OG Anunoby, marks the biggest roadblock to any potential trade of either Raptor.”
The language used indicates that the Raptors are likely looking for multiple first-round picks in exchange for Siakam. This is likely too rich a price for many suitors. Despite this, the Raptors are reportedly open to trading him. It’s just a matter of receiving an offer that meets their expectations.
These beliefs have likely been further amplified by recent trade activity. The Raptors will surely want to avoid the fate of the Washington Wizards, who failed to get any guaranteed first-round picks when trading Bradley Beal. Additionally, the Boston Celtics essentially managed to acquire two first-round picks in exchange for Marcus Smart.
TORONTO, ON – DECEMBER 27: Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers dribbles against Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors during the second half of their NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on December 27, 2022 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
While Siakam may yet change teams, one NBA veteran who likely won’t is Paul George. The LA Clippers received some interest, namely from the Blazers, Rockets, and Knicks, for George’s services. However, it now appears that George will be staying in LA for the time being.
The Clippers reportedly turned down an offer that included the third-overall pick from the Blazers. Meanwhile, LA also broke off talks with the Knicks before things progressed too far. While the team was clearly open to trading George, it appears that the interest in the veteran is not where the Clippers would want it to be.
This means that in all likelihood, George will return to anchor the Clippers alongside Kawhi Leonard for at least one more season. Both players have a player option year for the 2024-25 season. However, that could all change if a genuinely enticing offer was made for George’s services.
Everybody loves playing in Madison Square Garden. The Toronto Raptors pulled into New York City on Wednesday night, resulting in a 52-point performance from Pascal Siakam.
The 113-106 win by the Raptors snapped an 8-game winning streak by the Knicks.
Speaking after the game, Siakam said to the moment.
“I’m not a super basketball historian,” Siakam said. “I didn’t start basketball until a little late, but I know how special this building is, and I think that for me, the most important thing is that my team needed every bucket for us to win, which is the most important thing to me.”
Siakam’s entire stat line was 52 points, seven assists, and nine rebounds.
“For us, it just felt good to get a win, and the most important thing is to build on it,” Siakam added.
2K today released the fifth NBA 2K23 player ratings update, which includes enhancements for Zion Williamson, Anthony Davis, Pascal Siakam, and others.
Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans: 92 OVR (+4) shines this season, averaging 25 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. Meanwhile, Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam: 89 OVR (+1) has improved his game this season, averaging 24.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game.
Other notable changes include Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis’ 94 OVR (+1), Washington Wizards Kristaps Porziis’ 87 OVR (+2), Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson’s 85 OVR (+1), and others.
