It's looking like the NBA All-Star Game is going to undergo another big change, and that bodes incredibly well for Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam.
According to NBA insider Shams Charania, the NBA is expected to shift to a USA vs. World All-Star Game format for 2026. Given that Siakam, who was already an All-Star last season, is expected to have his biggest role with the Pacers so far next season, this should only make it even more likely that he earns the honor once again next season.
"Never seen before: USA-World concept. Three teams, two USA squads, one World team, it's gonna be eight players per squad," Charania said about the new NBA All-Star Game format.
This new format should open the door much more easily for the Cameroon native to earn another All-Star nod and add a bit more to his potential Hall of Fame case.
The Pacers need Pascal Siakam to turn it up next season
With Tyrese Haliburton on the shelf for all of next season and with Myles Turner having left in free agency, Siakam will now take on an even bigger role for the Pacers than the one he already had.
Since trading for him from the Toronto Raptors back in 2024, the Pacers have gotten a huge boost from the former NBA Champion, and he has played a big role in their recent success. Without him, Indiana likely doesn't make it to back-to-back conference finals, and they almost certainly don't make it to the NBA Finals earlier this year.
There are fair discussions about whether Siakam is a technically better player than Haliburton is for Indiana, given his consistency and value in each area of the game. However, regardless of where fans may place him, he is undoubtedly one of their most important players, and he will have an opportunity to further prove that next year.
Nothing is official yet, but it is looking like the Pacers will switch things up offensively now that Andrew Nembhard will be running the point for a season. Instead of relying on their typical fast-paced, run-and-gun offense that utilizes a lot of ball movement and improvisation, Indiana will likely slow things down and run a more traditional offense with set plays in the halfcourt. It remains to be seen if the Pacers will do this for sure, but there are reasons to believe they will in an effort to play to Nembhard's strengths.
Regardless of what the Pacers' offense looks like next season, it is clear that they will have to rely a lot more on Siakam to produce, particularly as a scorer. The team may have a difficult time generating points without Haliburton and Turner, but if Siakam can step up in a bigger role, he can make things much easier for the team.
Another deep playoff run for Indiana is unlikely next season. Even so, they have not given any indication that they are going to tank. If they want to remain competitive, the Pacers need to do the best with what they have, and that includes feeding Siakam even more and letting him do what makes him so special.