In just his first full season with the team, Pascal Siakam has already cemented himself as one of the all-time great Indiana Pacers. Though it did not go their way, the Pacers took the best team in the league to a Game 7 in the NBA Finals and made back-to-back conference finals appearances, and a lot of that credit deserves to go to Siakam, who has elevated the team since they traded for him.
SIakam is no Reggie Miller or Mel Daniels, but he is rapidly ascending Indiana's "greatest players" list, and his performance in this year's NBA Finals only helped his case. Trading for him completely changed the Pacers' identity, and as they look to remain in contention for the long haul, they will continue relying on Siakam to lead the way, especially for next season following the devastating injury to Tyrese Haliburton.
Pascal Siakam has been a fantastic addition to the Pacers
Not that it was much of a debate at the time, but the Pacers clearly made the right call by acquiring Siakam from the Toronto Raptors back in January 2024. He immediately elevated the team on both sides of the ball, became an excellent fit alongside Myles Turner in the frontcourt, and formed a great duo with Haliburton. By acquiring the Cameroon native, the Pacers immediately became legitimate title contenders, and he has been sensational through his first two postseasons with the team.
Siakam played a huge role in Indiana's first NBA Finals appearance in over two decades, even winning the Larry Bird Trophy along the way. Additionally, he was great in the NBA Finals and most likely would have taken home the Finals MVP award had the Pacers won. In the series, he averaged 19.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.3 blocks. Furthermore, he shot 45.4% from the field and 35.7% from beyond the arc.
The 31-year-old just wrapped up his first full season in Indiana, and only time will tell what his lasting impact with the team can be. Things might look a little strange for the Pacers next season, especially if Haliburton sits out the entire year with his Achilles injury. However, with Siakam now leading the way, it will be interesting to see how far the team can go next year.
No matter what, Siakam will always be remembered in Indiana for his role in bringing the team to their second NBA Finals appearance in franchise history. However, the team still has dreams of bringing the Larry O'Brien Trophy home for the first time ever. In order for them to do so, Siakam needs to keep doing what he has been doing since joining the team. If he does, he will continue to climb the ladder of all-time Pacers greats.