Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam is doing his best amid a difficult season for the team. Just months after reaching the NBA Finals, the Pacers are a shell of their former selves, without Tyrese Haliburton or Myles Turner to bail them out.
One thing going well for the Pacers is the fact that Pascal Siakam is having a career year for them. The 10th-year pro is averaging a career-high 24.5 points per game, along with 7.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists.
With Siakam showing up for the Pacers during a difficult season, some of the website’s staff gathered to discuss whether or not the Cameroonian forward should be considered an All-Star for this season.
Austin Dobbins
Siakam’s usage is up, as are his numbers. Siakam averages 24.5/7.1/4.1. Better than his All-Star numbers last season. Siakam continues to be a Swiss army knife, but the Pacers’ struggles could cause him to be overlooked.
With the new All-Star format being positionless, that could make things troubling for Siakam since there are probably plenty of them already. If Siakam can continue his play and the Pacers can start winning some games, a fourth All-Star appearance should be coming.
Ethan Skolnick
While Pascal Siakam is having a great season amid the Pacers chaos, it’s hard to see him getting an All-Star berth in light of Indiana’s record and all the leading teams in the East deserving of at least an All-Star. The East is loaded with guards: Cade Cunningham, Donovan Mitchell, Tyrese Maxey, Jalen Brunson, Norman Powell, maybe Josh Giddey if Chicago turns around.
There isn’t as much of a glut among the wings and bigs, but Jaylen Brown, Jalen Johnson and Brandon Ingram still appear to be favorites. Giannis is a given anyway, unless he gets shipped out West. Then there’s Jalen Duran, Evan Mobley, Bam Adebayo, all on teams with winning records. And Franz Wagner if his knee injury isn’t too serious – or maybe Paolo Banchero has time to get on with it. So no, a team below .500 probably won’t get anyone in.
Jeremy Brenner
If the Pacers must have an All-Star, it’s clearly Siakam. But there is no guarantee that this will happen. The biggest obstacle to Siakam’s All-Star candidacy is the fact that the Pacers are a five-win team entering December.
Three of the Pacers’ five wins come in the last five games, which is promising for their future. If the Pacers can continue to pile up wins, it will certainly help Siakam’s chances of becoming an All-Star.
With a relatively favorable schedule for the rest of the month, if Siakam can continue to play at a career pace, he certainly deserves some consideration to make his fourth All-Star team.
Siakam and the Pacers are back in action against the Sacramento Kings. Tipoff is scheduled for tonight at 7 p.m. ET. Fans can watch the game on FanDuel Sports Network or stream it on NBA League Pass.
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