Raptors: 3 reasons Pascal Siakam deserves All-NBA after 52-point night
By Mike Luciano
The Toronto Raptors may not be operating at peak efficiency right now, but the only reason this team has not completely fallen off and descended into complete chaos is the standout play of Pascal Siakam. The Cameroonian star is eyeing an All-NBA nomination for the second year in a row.
His masterful performance against the New York Knicks got his campaign kicked into high gear. Siakam scored 52 points in a road victory against a squad that won eight games on the bounce, putting him on an elite list of players that have scored 50 points in Madison Square Garden.
Even though the Raptors are hurdling towards potentially trading some assets in some deadline swaps, Siakam’s play is slowly starting to get the international recognition that it warrants. If this play ends up netting another All-NBA team for Siakam, we could be entering supermax territory.
Siakam is all but assured of getting an All-Star nomination, but he and the Raptors should have their sights set on something greater than that. All-NBA may be on the horizon, as his 52-point masterclass crystallized the notion that he is a top 15 player in the NBA right now.
3 reasons Toronto Raptors star Pascal Siakam must make All-NBA.
1. Improved production
The Raptors got some elite numbers out of Siakam last year, but he’s somehow managed to be even better this time around. In nearly every facet of his offensive game, Siakam’s numbers have ticked upward in such a drastic fashion that even a second-team nomination would be appropriate.
Siakam is averaging 26.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game, all while shooting just under 50%. Siakam is scoring more than Kyrie Irving, Nikola Jokic, and Zion Williamson. He’s also rebounding more effectively than Jayson Tatum and Luka Doncic while dishing out more assists than Dejounte Murray and LeBron James.
Toronto Raptors: Pascal Siakam is having his best season.
Siakam has taken it upon himself to be a quality shooter from deep and a force in the paint while still being able to get to the free-throw line and create for himself and others. Very few teams in the league ask for more out of their superstar players than what Toronto demands from Siakam.
Pascal has added so many new abilities and traits to his game in the last few seasons, and he is showing no signs of slowing down. Even the most ardent Siakam supporter during his days at New Mexico State had no idea he would totally rewrite Toronto’s franchise record books.