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The Thundertaker? Pascal Siakam explains his viral moment from the NBA Finals

The Thundertaker? Pascal Siakam explains his viral moment from the NBA Finals

Toronto Star22-06-2025
Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam celebrates a basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half of Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Thursday. Michael Conroy AP
These NBA Finals have renewed excitement in many ways. And if there is a changing of the guard underway, that's not a bad thing.
These NBA Finals have renewed excitement in many ways. And if there is a changing of the guard underway, that's not a bad thing.
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Childhood in Montréal-Nord, draft snub turned Luguentz Dort into NBA champion
Childhood in Montréal-Nord, draft snub turned Luguentz Dort into NBA champion

CBC

time5 days ago

  • CBC

Childhood in Montréal-Nord, draft snub turned Luguentz Dort into NBA champion

Social Sharing When the clock hit zero, kicking off celebrations with his teammates after clinching the NBA title, Luguentz Dort's thoughts were dominated by his family and his memories growing up in Montréal Nord. "I was thinking about my whole — everything honestly, my whole childhood," Dort said. "My family got to come on stage with me and then celebrate that as well. It was a moment I'll never forget." Later this summer, Dort will be bringing the NBA trophy home to Montréal-Nord next month after winning an NBA title with the Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games versus the Indiana Pacers. "I feel like they deserve that because they've been supporting me all season," he told CBC's Daybreak Thursday morning. People in Montréal-Nord had the opportunity to see two of its neighbourhood heroes during the finals. WATCH | Rapid-fire questions with Lu Dort: 7 questions with Luguentz Dort, Montreal's recently crowned NBA champion 4 minutes ago Dort was facing off against Bennedict Mathurin of the Indiana Pacers — a close friend of his — essentially guaranteeing a big celebration for the city, but specifically the borough he grew up in. Dort said he phoned Mathurin when he found out the Pacers had made it to the finals, calling it "insane." "Me and Ben, you know, spend a lot of time together during the off-season, we train together as well. So like, to be in there where like 'I'm not even talking to you,' like we was at that point like 'You not my friend no more,'" Dort said laughing. Earlier this year, Dort was also named to the NBA's All-Defensive First Team, an honour recognizing his skill as a defensive player during the regular season. Dort joined the Thunder in 2019 after teams passed up on him at the NBA draft — despite the fact he had been projected as a first-round pick. The hurt and disappointment from that night has helped develop into a key cog on a championship team. "That's a day that I will never forget," he said of the 2019 NBA draft. "It's always a motivation every time I face a team that had the chance to draft me. But at the same time, it shaped me as a player and helped me, you know, get to where I am today." Dort won't just be back in Montreal to celebrate the NBA championship win. He runs a basketball camp in the city, with hopes of giving potential future NBA stars opportunities he didn't have as a younger player. "Growing up, I used to travel a lot to go those elite camps in L.A. or Houston or all those big cities," he said.

Pacers All-Star Pascal Siakam is selected as pace car driver for Sunday's Brickyard 400
Pacers All-Star Pascal Siakam is selected as pace car driver for Sunday's Brickyard 400

Winnipeg Free Press

time7 days ago

  • Winnipeg Free Press

Pacers All-Star Pascal Siakam is selected as pace car driver for Sunday's Brickyard 400

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Brickyard 400 fans will get their own glimpse into a Pacers and racers weekend Sunday. Brickyard 400 organizers said Tuesday that Indiana Pacers All-Star Pascal Siakam has been selected as the pace-car driver for this weekend's race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The announcement comes almost exactly two months after the Pacers played the New York Knicks in an Eastern Conference final game on the same day as the Indianapolis 500. The events took place just a short drive apart. Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace, right, fouls Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam during the first half of Game 7 of the NBA Finals basketball series Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings) It was just the fourth time a Pacers and racers doubleheader had taken place in Indy. Now, though, Siakam will get a chance to experience the other part, this time leading the Cup cars to the green flag in a 2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS. The race will take place on the historic 2.5-mile oval for the second straight year after it had been run on the track's road course. 'Basketball and motorsports — Pacers and racers — go hand in hand in Indianapolis,' IndyCar and speedway President Doug Boles said in a statement. 'Following the Pacers' electrifying postseason run, it's only fitting to have Pascal join us to pace the field as NASCAR's biggest stars compete to win the In-Season Challenge and add their name to the history books with a win at the Brickyard.' Siakam didn't start playing basketball until he was 17 years old. He grew up in Cameroon and the three-time All-Star also is a two-time All-NBA selection and won an NBA title with the Toronto Raptors in 2019. Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter Mike McIntyre | On Sports Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. ___ AP auto racing:

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