Pascal Siakam is the present and future of the Toronto Raptors. That could mean the Toronto faithful has another Kawhi Leonard on its hands.
Yes, Siakam has two inches on Leonard, and he wears a headband. But the two have a lot in common besides playing for the Raptors last season when it concerns their career trajectory.
Leonard began his NBA career as a role player for the San Antonio Spurs. Sure, the potential for Leonard to prosper was there. He was a tenacious defender, comfortable with the ball in his hands, finished inside, and took what the defense gave him. At the same time, with the likes of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili present, it was difficult to forecast stardom in Leonard' future.
Then he earned a bigger role in the Spurs' offense.
While Leonard was a fixture in head coach Gregg Popovich's rotation in his sophomore season, he was, at best, their fourth scoring option. But as time went on, the ball found Leonard more, and he maximized his skill set. He played with aggression offensively, hit the boards, and became a preeminent figure on both ends of the floor.
By 2016 it was evident that Leonard was a star, and the Spurs were comfortable with him as their go-to scorer, as their veterans neared the finish line of their respective careers. In the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons, Leonard averaged 21.2 and 25.5 points per game. He got his buckets by means of attacking the rack and hoisting up more midrange jump shots — a noted weakness in his game beforehand — while maintaining a high level of play on the other end.
Despite appearing in just nine games due to an injury predicament the ensuing season, Leonard helped lead the Raptors — who he was traded to in the offseason — to their first-ever NBA championship in 2019. He averaged a career-high 26.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game while possessing a killer midrange game, playing with tenacity, and taking over in clutch moments.
The now-Los Angeles Clippers star has become one of the faces of the NBA.
Let's recast that story with Siakam in place of Leonard.
Siakam started 38 of the 55 games he appeared in during his rookie season with the Raptors (2016-17) but had little to no impact on the team's offense. His role was to convert easy buckets inside and play respectable defense — which he did well. The ensuing season he was primarily a reserve, but one that was a steady force on both ends and part of a deep Raptors bench.
Then last season happened.
As part of some rotation maneuvering by first-year head coach Nick Nurse, Siakam was plugged into the starting five as the team's power forward. At the time, little was thought of the decision, as Siakam was a bit of an unknown. Then he made his presence felt.
Averaging 16.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.9 assists while shooting 54.9 percent from the field in the regular season, then 19.0 points and 7.1 rebounds per game in the playoffs, he was an irreplaceable member of the Raptors' championship run. Whether it be playing reliable on-ball defense, finding the open man, attacking the rack, or taking what the defense gave him, Siakam made an impact on both ends.
After the Raptors won the NBA Finals, they lost Leonard to free agency. Who would be their new go-to scorer? Who would pick up the slack? Siakam became the answer to both questions.
Through 14 games, the 27th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft has performed at a level deemed worthy of star treatment. He went into the Raptors' Wednesday night matchup with the Orlando Magic averaging 25.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. He also has five 30-plus point games this season.
This is a different player. Sure, Siakam has always been a reliable defender, but the offensive tendencies he's displaying this season are unlike years past. He's playing in the post on a more consistent basis, attacking off the dribble, and effortlessly attempting outside jump shots.
There's a different vibe around Siakam. In years past he has manned a complementary role in the Raptors' offense, done nothing extraordinary, and been a savvy player. When you're playing around seasoned veterans such as Leonard, Kyle Lowry, Marc Gasol, and Serge Ibaka, you figure you'll be a glue guy and do the little things. Now Siakam is doing all the big things — and in a selfless way.
Usually number-one scorers are ball-dominant players who play in isolation and rarely pass out of a shot attempt. Siakam, on the other hand, doesn't force jump shots. If he's double-teamed or feels a shot might not fall, he'll find the open man or kick the ball back out to the perimeter. And he still averages 20-plus points per game.
For a player with his frame (6-foot-9, 229 pounds) to be playing in an aggressive, well-versed manner offensively is remarkable and rare, especially considering how this play essentially began a month ago. He's silencing everyone who thought he couldn't be the face of a franchise.
In time, star players are going to want to play in Toronto alongside Siakam. Who wouldn't want to play with a selfless player who makes others better and comes through in big moments?
Neither Leonard or Siakam has a distinguishable aspect to their game, and that's because they're fundamentally sound players. They're elite defenders, score in non-excitable ways, and are quiet. There's nothing wrong with that. In today's upbeat NBA environment, that's an admirable approach.
Humble NBA beginnings, a gradual bump in minutes, proving himself, playing behind a star, and then becoming a star is the path Leonard took and one that Siakam is nearing the final stages of as the Raptors' headman.
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