3 All-NBA players Raptors star Pascal Siakam is outperforming
By Mike Luciano
The Toronto Raptors haven’t shied away from letting Pascal Siakam be the main offensive force that drives Toronto’s entire operation. The results have not only been acceptable, given Toronto’s 3-2 start, but they’ve been nothing short of jaw-dropping and record-setting.
Siakam has averaged 25.2 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per game in the first five games of the season, three of which have been Raptors wins. After making All-NBA last season, Siakam’s latest performance has helped establish him as a player the powers that be in the league must respect.
Not only does he appear to be a near lock for All-NBA again this year, but he might even push his way onto the second team if he is able to keep these numbers off. Not all the players from last year’s All-NBA squads have been performing at that level so far this season.
These three players from the 2021-22 All-NBA team are getting thoroughly outplayed by Siakam in the early stages of this season. Pascal’s emergence has put him on the same level as these stars, despite all three of them likely getting more hype from the NBA media.
Toronto Raptors: 3 2021 All-NBA members Pascal Siakam is outplaying.
3. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
Towns was a prime candidate for statistical regression, as the addition of Rudy Gobert and the continued development of Anthony Edwards was going to rob him of opportunities to score. Still, the fact that Siakam has been the better player so far and away this year is worth considering.
Towns is averaging 20.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game on 45% shooting. All of those numbers except the assists are down from last year, while Siakam improved upon last year’s averages while maintaining his solid field goal percentage. Has Pascal leaped over KAT?
Is Pascal Siakam better than Karl-Anthony Towns?
With the Joel Embiid/Nikola Jokic center question likely to still lord over the All-NBA selections, there is a chance that Towns and Siakam end up battling it out for the final spot. Assuming that the Timberwolves are going to let the young Edwards get in as many shots as they have, Towns’ numbers may continue to suffer.
Siakam has been able to put these numbers up despite an All-Star point guard and Rookie of the Year in Fred VanVleet and Scottie Barnes, respectively, all requiring touches. Even though he sacrifices shots in one of the league’s slowest offenses, Pascal has been as dominant as ever.