It seems like the Toronto Raptors didn't have to wait long for their Kawhi Leonard replacement as Pascal Siakam is balling out of his skin. He's stepped up from the team's first championship season and is now the new King in the North.
Moreover, he just cemented his legitimacy to the throne after taking down the New Orleans Pelicans in a dominant manner. He finished with 44 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists. He joins an exclusive club of Raptors with this latest stat line.
Pascal Siakam joins Chris Bosh, Vince Carter and DeMar DeRozan as the only players in @Raptors history with multiple games with 40 Pts and 10 Reb 💪 pic.twitter.com/dyT4XucCkf
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) November 9, 2019
The names listed in the tweet have all been important names in the lore of the franchise. Carter was the team's first real star, wowing crowds all over with his fantastic dunks and offensive prowess during his early years in the league.
He eventually left to team up with Jason Kidd in New Jersey, and Bosh quickly took his place. The stretch four was the key player for the Raptors in seven years, making them perennial playoff contenders during the majority of the time he was there.
Bosh also left the franchise to buddy up with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in Miami, and DeMar DeRozan was the next man up. Unlike the other two, he never really wanted out of the city and played with his heart on his sleeve. He never managed to take the team to the Promised Land due to playing during LeBron's era of dominance in the Eastern Conference.
Siakam's already shaping up to be quite a leader for the Raptors. He's averaging 26 points, nine rebounds, and four assists this season. If he keeps this up, he'll be the latest addition to the Pantheon of Raptor greats.
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