After watching the hoopla that followed the NHL's acclaimed 4-Nations Face-Off (shoutout Team Canada, woop woop), I recall touching base with my other NBA Division delegates here at FanSided, raising the question of whether the NBA could also adopt a similar All-Star format. I remember a few folks saying that it would only make the NBA look like imitators, trying to capitalize on something another league handled pretty well, even though it doesn't necessarily guarantee the same results for those on the hardwood.
Well, fast forward to September, and here we are with intriguing news courtesy of ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania. He reported that the NBA would once again be tweaking its All-Star Game format, as the new weekend showcase is "likely to feature a round-robin tournament consisting three eight-player squads of two USA teams and one World team," as Charania noted in an X post.
Which brings us to the subject of this piece: Pascal Siakam.
The ex-Raptors franchise player, now-Pacers veteran star, has experienced his fair share of highs and lows during his 2020s peak. Be that as it may, when it comes to international talent who have maintained an impressive level of consistency, while also displaying a fair amount of growth — Pascal Siakam has to be among the top mentions. And drawing off of that, the window of opportunity for "Spicy P" (or Dr. Siakam as he was recently christened) has swung wide open to add yet another All-Star accolade to what is quickly growing into a near Hall of Fame resume.
Pascal Siakam looks poised to be part of the World NBA All-Star team
It would be hard to argue against a late-bloomer like Siakam, who was able to be an influential part of a Raptors championship squad (so early in his career, mind you), an All-NBA Second Team appearance, an All-NBA Third Team appearance, the Most Improved Player award, the Eastern Conference Finals MVP, and helping Indiana reach the 2025 NBA Finals, along with three previous All-Star selections already. This format, plus Siakam's potential to be the Pacers' primary offensive option in the absence of Tyrese Haliburton, heavily favors him.
The others in the World category are clear as day, with names like Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Victor Wembanyama, and Canada's favorite son, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, all penciled in as locks. While Siakam might be a tier or so below those guys, there’s no doubt in my mind that he will be in that echelon of names to round out the group, alongside other rightful options like Alperen Sengun and Franz Wagner.
If the NBA sees success with this format, then Siakam could be in the running for more All-Star honors, provided he remains a relevant star in the league even as he reaches his mid-30s.