Fresh off a four-year, $130 million extension of his rookie contract, fourth-year forward Pascal Siakam isn't slowing down after mustering the big pay day from the Toronto Raptors. The 25-year-old showed just that during a season-opening overtime win over the New Orleans Pelicans, pouring in 34 points and 18 rebounds during his season debut.

“I’m always ready,” Siakam said as he made his way out of the locker room after the game, according to Michael Lee of The Athletic. “You think about all the work you’ve put it. From the first day I got drafted, I always wanted more and I felt like I deserve to be at a different level, so I never settled. And I’m never going to settle. I’m always going to work and try to better myself.”

The youngest of six siblings, Siakam was the last child capable of fulfilling the dream of his late father, Tchamo, who hoped to see at least see one of his sons make it to the NBA. Tchamo Siakam died in a car accident five years ago and wasn't able to watch his son get drafted in the NBA.

Pascal commemorates his passing before every game, writing “10/23” on his left shoe and “RIP Dad” on the right.

“I always say, ‘I feel like the chosen one,’” Siakam said of the dream shared by his family. “This was an opportunity for me, so I’ll take it. I have to go get it. From the first time I touched a basketball, I had something to prove. As an African. As someone that started playing basketball eight years ago. As someone coming here from a different country. Obviously, I play for something bigger, my dad and all that. But as a competitor, I always had that edge. A lot of people have their opinions and don’t think I deserve to be there, which is fine. I just got to continue to work hard to prove them wrong.”

Siakam has more than 130 million reasons to perform on a high level, the most important of them is to fulfill the destiny his father had set for him before passing. The way he's approached this season, there will be little that can be done to stop him.