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New York Times
an hour ago
- Business
- New York Times
Pascal Siakam leans on his championship credentials to will Pacers into NBA Finals
INDIANAPOLIS — As the Indiana Pacers celebrated Saturday night's 125-108 win over the New York Knicks in Game 6, stars Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam embraced on the court. It was the moment for which Siakam had been brought to Indianapolis. The Pacers acquired Siakam on January 17, 2024 from the Toronto Raptors. Siakam had spent his entire career with Toronto and was a key member of their 2019 NBA championship team. With the trade, Siakam, twice an All-Star in Toronto and again this season with the Pacers, brought leadership and winning experience to a young, gutsy team. Siakam was meant to be a perfect complement to Haliburton. Advertisement And he delivered. 'Well, if you have the right player to build around, it can happen much faster than you think,' head coach Rick Carlisle said. 'Getting Tyrese made it very clear what our identity as a team needed to be. We needed to be a fast-paced team with shooting, and we had some good shooting at the time. 'The Siakam trade took things to another level.' Great leaders remain resilient under pressure. Facing a potential closeout Game 7 on the road, Siakam rose to the occasion at home in Game 6. The Pacers had an opportunity to beat the Knicks in Game 5 at Madison Square Garden, but they came out unenergetic, unmotivated and flat. New York jumped out to an early lead, which they never let up, and Indiana never really locked in. Siakam finished with 15 points, six rebounds and five assists — the only Indiana starter to score in double figures. After the poor showing, Pacers players were confident that they would watch film and turn things around. They vowed to fix their mistakes and defend the Knicks' sharpshooters with more urgency. And in Saturday night's game, the Pacers showed and proved they deserved to be on basketball's biggest stage, advancing to the franchise's second-ever NBA Finals. Though Haliburton got off to a relatively quiet start, Siakam was the first Pacer to score in double figures. Siakam was smooth on the offensive end, hitting turnaround jumpers as New York looked for an answer for him. He also leaked out on multiple possessions, sprinting ahead of Knicks defenders for easy baskets. On the defensive end, he was dominant, keeping Karl-Anthony Towns from becoming too much of a threat. In the decisive home victory, Siakam led all scorers with 31 points, his third 30-plus-point game of the series. Shooting 55 percent from the field (10 of 18) and including 2 of 5 from 3, Siakam's next-level performance earned him Eastern Conference finals MVP. ALL LOVE FOR PASCAL 🫶🫶 Pacers teammates celebrate @pskills43 winning ECF MVP and getting the Larry Bird Trophy 👏 — NBA (@NBA) June 1, 2025 'Congratulations to Pascal. So deserving guy's been a rock of consistency all year, and a lot of guys contributed to this game,' Carlisle said. Pascal Siakam earns the Larry Bird Trophy as the Eastern Conference Finals MVP @CBS4Indy | @FOX59 — Alexa Ross (@AlexaRossTV) June 1, 2025 In the series against the Knicks, Siakam was a steadying presence on the court, averaging 24.8 points. And thanks to his championship pedigree, Siakam provided valuable advice to his teammates in the locker room. 'We brought in a champion, and then you brought in someone that's been there before … someone who had to work his way up,' Pacers big man Myles Turner said. 'He's a G League champion, G League finals MVP, and (an) All-Star. (He's) someone who's also seen the highs and lows and (has) that championship experience. There's only so much I can tell guys. 'When you have someone who's actually been in trenches, who has actually felt what it feels like … it's so underrated, just the emotions this time of the year. You don't sleep. You lose hair. You can't explain that if you've never been here before.' "We brought in a champion."@Original_Turner on the impact that @pskills43 has had on the Pacers since last season's trade 👏 Siakam leads IND to the Finals, beginning Thursday, 6/5 at 8:30pm/et on ABC! — NBA (@NBA) June 1, 2025 Winning a ring with the Raptors was not the only reason leaving Toronto was one of the most difficult moments of Siakam's career. Toronto's 'Jurassic Park' was the place that fostered his love for basketball, before he knew basketball was a lifestyle somewhere in the middle of America. 'It was a tough moment, I think being in Toronto … I came there as a little kid, and it was a huge part of who I am as a person. And having to leave that place was hard,' Siakam said. 'From the first time I had a conversation with Chad (Buchanan, Pacers GM), (president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard) and coach (Rick Carlisle), this was a goal. I think that just how amazing they've been throughout the whole process, just supporting me, not that I needed the words of affirmation, just being there for me. 'And just so much support from the organization, the fans. I can never take it for granted. It's rewarding to be able to be in this position. (It's been a) full year and a half but to be able to get to this level and have the opportunity to play for an NBA championship, that's amazing.' "It's been a crazy journey." Pascal Siakam discusses the winding road leading him to his 2nd NBA Finals, this time as ECF MVP 🤩💯 — NBA (@NBA) June 1, 2025 Siakam came ready to make an impact, and did as soon as he donned the blue and gold. In 41 games for the Pacers during the 2023-24 campaign, Siakam averaged 21.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists. After Indiana's season ended in the Eastern Conference finals, Siakam invited his Pacers teammates to his home to build upon the chemistry that had started to bloom during the season. Advertisement 'I think that's one of the reasons coming into the summer I invited everyone to my house. We got to hang out. And every single person on this team is an amazing person,' Siakam said. 'It's just a bunch of good guys. And when you have that, and everyone is committed to the work, and there's no selfishness and it's all about winning, that's what you want to have. 'And another thing … we're resilient. We won't stop. And when there's bad games, we're still gonna be here. We're gonna wake up every single day and we're gonna go to work, and that's what you want from a team. That's why I always ride for these guys.' Pascal Siakam dropped 31 in our Game 6 clincher 😮💨 — Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) June 1, 2025 And his guys ride for him. They have since the very beginning, especially Haliburton. The All-Star point guard was the first to buy in, knowing what was at stake. 'When we brought him here, we had a vision,' Haliburton said. 'We envisioned doing something like this, doing something special. It's just really special that he's been here. He's been like a big brother for me, someone I can really trust, somebody that I can really lean on and talk to, and just somebody who can always keep me steady.' Siakam has especially been a steadying presence for Bennedict Mathurin, the third-year guard/forward from Montreal. The two share more than their native language, French, and Canadian residence at different points in their lives. They share a similar competitive spirit, a never-ending work ethic, and the desire to rise above expectations. 'He's good, he's amazing,' Mathurin said. 'He's always the same — even-keeled — whether we win or we lose. He's been there before, so it's easy to know what he's talking about. It's easy to follow what he knows best. This moment is amazing.' Advertisement The moment Siakam raised the Larry Bird Trophy next to Reggie Miller in front of a sold-out, gold-out crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the kid from Cameroon joined the rich fabric of Indiana basketball forever. Because he now understands, 'in 49 states, it's just basketball.'
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pascal Siakam Narrowly Beats Out Tyrese Haliburton To Win Eastern Conference Finals MVP
Pascal Siakam Narrowly Beats Out Tyrese Haliburton To Win Eastern Conference Finals MVP originally appeared on Fadeaway World. The Indiana Pacers are headed to the NBA Finals following a 125-108 win over the New York Knicks in Game 6 of the Conference Finals. It was a total team effort on the Pacers' part in this series, but only one man could be named Eastern Conference Finals MVP, and it was Pascal Siakam. This was perhaps a bit of a surprise. You'd have expected Tyrese Haliburton to win the Larry Bird Trophy, but Siakam is a worthy recipient. Advertisement Siakam averaged 24.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game against the Knicks. The 31-year-old was incredibly efficient, too, as he shot 52.4% from the field and 50.0% from beyond the arc. Siakam led the way in this Game 6 win with 31 points (10-18 FG), five rebounds, three assists, one steal, and three blocks. It was his third 30-point game of the series, and the Pacers won all three of those games. A 39-point explosion by Siakam got the Pacers a huge 114-109 win in New York in Game 2 to take a 2-0 lead. The three-time All-Star then had 30 in a pivotal 130-121 win in Game 4 in Indianapolis to ensure the Knicks didn't tie the series. These are the performances the Pacers would have expected from Siakam when they acquired him from the Toronto Raptors in 2024. The Cameroonian brought in some championship experience as well, having won it all with the Raptors in 2019, and it showed in some of the big moments in this series. Advertisement The Pacers had given Siakam a four-year, $189.5 million deal before the start of the season, and it's safe to say he's repaid their faith in him. For all of his heroics in this series, though, he only narrowly won the award. He got five of the nine votes for MVP, with the four others going to Haliburton. Haliburton averaged 21.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 10.5 assists, 2.5 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game against the Knicks. The two-time All-Star had more than his fair share of special moments in the series, too. Haliburton played his part in that miraculous comeback win in Game 1, hitting the shot that sent the game to overtime. The 25-year-old was even better than Siakam in Game 4, finishing with 32 points (11-23 FG), 12 rebounds, 15 assists, and four steals. You certainly can make a strong argument that Haliburton deserved to win MVP, but he wouldn't be losing much sleep over losing out to Siakam. He's headed to his first NBA Finals and would have his eyes set on pulling off a stunning upset. Advertisement Standing between the Pacers and their first-ever NBA championship are the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder had the best record in the NBA this season at 68-14 and demolished the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games in the Western Conference Finals. They'll be the clear favorites in this series, and it's going to take something special to get the better of them. This Pacers team has shown it is capable of doing special things, though. They beat the 64-win Cleveland Cavaliers in the Conference Semifinals and would be backing themselves to knock out another juggernaut. Related: Knicks Fan Pays Witch To Cast Spell On Pacers' Eastern Conference Finals Series This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
National Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- National Post
Former Raptors all-star DeMar DeRozan shares thoughts about playing in Toronto
DeMar DeRozan may have a beef with one of Toronto's most famous musicians, but he has nothing against the city itself. Article content During a recent appearance on the Run Your Race podcast, the California-raised NBA star – who has become involved in the rap feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, siding with the latter — shared his feelings about playing the majority of his career north of the border. Article content When asked by host Theo Pinson, a former NBA guard, about his time playing in Toronto, DeRozan was nothing but complimentary towards the Six. Article content 'Talk about hooping in Toronto, in general … How special is Toronto?' Pinson asked. Article content 'I'm glad I didn't get drafted nowhere else. Toronto is always going to be the No. 1 place in my heart,' DeRozan said. Article content 'For everything that they've done for me, did for me, supporting me through my time there.' Article content Article content DeMar's love for Toronto is unconditional #WeTheNorth — Raptors Republic (@raptorsrepublic) May 28, 2025 Article content DeRozan was selected ninth overall in the 2009 NBA draft by the Raptors. Article content 'I grew up there, I embraced everything that came with playing there and I just wanted to give everything back to that place when it came to playing basketball,' DeRozan continued. Article content 'That's why I worked so hard, that's why I repped so hard … that fanbase deserved that when it came to sports.' Article content The six-time NBA all-star also said that he wanted the city to be known for more than just the Leafs on the sporting landscape. Article content 'When I got there, I remember just only seeing the Maple Leafs on TV every single day,' he said. Article content 'I wanted it to be respected for basketball as well, I wanted people to think that Toronto, from that standpoint as well. Article content 'That's why it was so dope when we hosted (NBA all-star weekend) there in 2016, to bring more light to the city.' Article content Article content During the interview, DeRozan also praised his former teammate and fellow Raptors great Chris Bosh. Article content Article content DeRozan said that, during his rookie season, he was blown away by the 11-time all-star. Article content 'Listen, CB was cold,' DeRozan told Pinson, according to Basketball Network. 'Listen, bro. I remember our first training camp. I remember coming in training camp and excited for training camp. I'm like, 's***, Chris Bosh is about to be here.' He coming in training camp, but he didn't do training camp, because I think that's the summer before they did the Olympics. He was on the Olympic team, so he was resting. Article content 'But when the season started and how he got to it, he was getting buckets, he was getting 40. I'm like, 'Yo, this motherf***** nice!' DeRozan added. Article content
Toronto Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Toronto Sun
Former Raptors all-star DeMar DeRozan shares thoughts about playing in Toronto
'I grew up there, I embraced everything that came with playing there and I just wanted to give everything back to that place when it came to playing basketball.' Former Toronto Raptors forward DeMar DeRozan reacts after making a basket during a game in 2014. The Canadian Press DeMar DeRozan may have a beef with one of Toronto's most famous musicians, but he has nothing against the city itself. During a recent appearance on the Run Your Race podcast, the California-raised NBA star – who has become involved in the rap feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, siding with the latter — shared his feelings about playing the majority of his career north of the border. When asked by host Theo Pinson, a former NBA guard, about his time playing in Toronto, DeRozan was nothing but complimentary towards the Six. 'Talk about hooping in Toronto, in general … How special is Toronto?' Pinson asked. 'I'm glad I didn't get drafted nowhere else. Toronto is always going to be the No. 1 place in my heart,' DeRozan said. 'For everything that they've done for me, did for me, supporting me through my time there.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account DeRozan was selected ninth overall in the 2009 NBA draft by the Raptors. 'I grew up there, I embraced everything that came with playing there and I just wanted to give everything back to that place when it came to playing basketball,' DeRozan continued. 'That's why I worked so hard, that's why I repped so hard … that fanbase deserved that when it came to sports.' The six-time NBA all-star also said that he wanted the city to be known for more than just the Leafs on the sporting landscape. 'When I got there, I remember just only seeing the Maple Leafs on TV every single day,' he said. 'I wanted it to be respected for basketball as well, I wanted people to think that Toronto, from that standpoint as well. 'That's why it was so dope when we hosted (NBA all-star weekend) there in 2016, to bring more light to the city.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Read More During the interview, DeRozan also praised his former teammate and fellow Raptors great Chris Bosh. DeRozan said that, during his rookie season, he was blown away by the 11-time all-star. 'Listen, CB was cold,' DeRozan told Pinson, according to Basketball Network. 'Listen, bro. I remember our first training camp. I remember coming in training camp and excited for training camp. I'm like, 's***, Chris Bosh is about to be here.' He coming in training camp, but he didn't do training camp, because I think that's the summer before they did the Olympics. He was on the Olympic team, so he was resting. 'But when the season started and how he got to it, he was getting buckets, he was getting 40. I'm like, 'Yo, this motherf***** nice!' DeRozan added. DeRozan just wrapped up his 16th NBA season and first with the Sacramento Kings. The 35-year-old swingman also has played for the San Antonio Spurs and Chicago Bulls. Toronto & GTA Ontario Toronto & GTA Toronto & GTA Sunshine Girls
Toronto Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Toronto Raptors mailbag: Is Giannis coming to town? RJ Barrett on the move?
Part 1 of the mailbag keys on trade rumours. Get the latest from Ryan Wolstat straight to your inbox RJ Barrett of the Toronto Raptors drives to the basket against Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks earlier this season. Getty Images It has been a while since we did a Toronto Raptors mailbag. But with the most insane lottery in recent memory completed and the NBA draft just a month away, now's as good a time as any to take reader questions. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Here's part 1 with a thanks as always for the questions. Part 2, with more of a focus on the draft and ownership changes, will drop later in the week: Sean @Whispering375: Why would Raptors look to trade RJ Barrett? He's been a bucket-getter. Who would you move this summer? @D13Drafts asks: 'It seems that RJ Barrett is the most likely piece of the core to be moved. What do you think is a likely destination for RJ & do you expect to see movement on that front?' Ryan Wolstat: It's a fair take D13 and one I've made myself in past columns (arguing either Barrett or Ochai Agbaji might have to go at some point to avoid the luxury tax). Though Barrett checks a lot of boxes (at 24, he's actually the second-youngest 'core' piece, not including the ninth pick of this coming draft, he's the leading scorer each of the last two seasons, a homegrown star and puts a lot of pressure on the rim, unlike most of his teammates), he likely has a more moveable contract than other core Raptors. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Immanuel Quickley arguably has a more-needed key skill, with his ability to hit pull-up three-pointers, than Barrett, Brandon Ingram isn't going anywhere and the team believes in Gradey Dick and Ja'Kobe Walter a lot, making Barrett perhaps superfluous because Ingram will replace his points and, between Dick and Walter, they can absorb the bulk of the shooting guard minutes (with Agbaji potentially playing some as well or Quickley sliding over beside Jamal Shead). And Sean, I agree on the sentiment of why move him? It was a bit odd Toronto didn't push Barrett for all-star consideration at all even though he was the leading scorer and was putting up insane numbers at home. They like him and opted for a deal that included him from New York instead of other variations that didn't, but don't seem to value the Canadian connection, the work ethic, personality, bucket-getting abilities and improved defensive commitment as they should (clearly I like Barrett more than many people do). Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. I don't see what the Raptors do with Dick and would be intrigued what he'd fetch on the market, but not sure it would be enough to give up on him now (if he has another overall year like this past campaign, though, it would be hard to get any value for him), but not sure there's any other obvious choice to trade, unless Agbaji could get you something nice before you have to potentially overpay him. As for who might be interested in Barrett? Hard to say right now until we see bigger dominos fall around the league. If he is dealt, it would be stunning to see it happen this off-season instead of next or even in season (unless it's to make the money work in a deal returning a superstar). Which brings us to: Pierro @Oliaros2: How good a chance to the Raps have at landing Giannis Antetokounmpo and do you know if that's even a serious consideration? This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Chris Hill: Do you think they're serious players for Giannis? RW: Went over this in more detail earlier this month. While Masai Ujiri has surprised me in the past (I was as big a Kawhi rumour sceptic as you can get) we just can't imagine they have an offer good enough to get it done. It would take Giannis saying 'move me to Toronto and Toronto only' for it to happen, realistically. Plenty of teams can blow the best Raptors package out of the water since the team fell to ninth in the lottery from seventh. Toronto's best offer (something like Barnes, No. 9, two of Dick, Walter, Agbaji, their 2026 first, 2027 first swap option, 2028 first, 2029 first swap option) looks OK until you think about alternatives for the Bucks, who don't control most of their future draft picks so have little incentive to stink the next couple of years, meaning they'd either want a lot more instant help than Toronto can offer, or control of their picks back. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Houston could offer all-star Alperen Sengun and Reed Sheppard plus better picks or Jabari Smith, Sheppard and picks. San Antonio could offer the second pick of the draft (likely Dylan Harper) and pieces to make salary work, plus other picks. Orlando could build a package around Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs plus picks (or Paolo Banchero, but that's probably unlikely). New Orleans could give Milwaukee its picks back (acquired in the Jrue Holiday trade) and Zion Williamson or something like that and we're probably missing a team or two. For what it's worth, Vegas believes Milwaukee is about 50-50 to keep Giannis. San Antonio and Houston have the best odds of trading for him, followed by Brooklyn, Miami and New York, though the latter three are significant longshots. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. To me, Houston makes the most sense with a bunch of variations to make it happen. Read More Spencer Smith: How is it possible that the Raptors had the 26th-ranked defensive rating in 2023-24 with OG and Pascal on the team??? RW: If you were watching closely that year, it was clear Anunoby was not the same dude he was in a fully motivated 2022-23, when he led the NBA in steals and deflections and should have made the all-defensive first team instead of the second. While OG wasn't exactly doing the full Vince Carter 'I quit,' he wasn't having close to his usual impact (and, like Carter, once he landed in the New York area, he took back off and turned back into the player he had been before). This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Siakam's drop-off defensively was stark that year, too, likely a result of the trade rumours, declining relationship with the front office and lack of coherence with Darko Rajakovic. Toronto also replaced Fred VanVleet's pesky brand of defence with Dennis Schroder and Malachi Flynn — sub-optimal, to say the least — leading to many more breakdowns, plus Gary Trent Jr. took two or three steps backwards defensively from the previous year. All that said, once Siakam and Anunoby were traded and when the remaining players pretty much all got hurt or had to leave the team for personal matters, the Raptors slipped to 29th defensively and rarely won a game. So they were still better defensively with Siakam and Anunoby at, say, 60% of their capabilities, than without them entirely. Canada Canada Money News Tennis Music
