It's insane how fast time flies.
Summer is over, NBA basketball is just around the corner, and in the case of former Raptors cornerstone Pascal Siakam, before we know it, we'll be nearly a full year removed from the "Spicy P" era in Toronto coming to an end. It was a whirlwind of a tenure, full of its ups and downs, but regardless of how you feel about him, Pascal Siakam will undoubtedly be a celebrated figure in Raptors history for all his contributions.
And speaking of a reason for celebration, the now-Pacers star just received an accolade that reflects his impact off the court and beyond: the University of New Brunswick awarded Siakam an honorary Doctor of Letters (DLitt) degree.
Pascal Siakam awarded honorary degree from University of New Brunswick
Siakam shared his feelings about receiving the esteemed honor on social media, with his heartfelt caption reading as follows:
"Receiving an honorary degree from UNB is an incredible honour but the bigger story is the scholarship we created with the McKenna Institute in my father’s name.Pascal Siakam via X/Instagram
The Pascal Siakam Scholarship supports students from Cameroon studying computer science and technology, giving them the gift my father always valued most: an education no one can take away…
A huge thank you to the fans and community who showed up last night, your support made this moment even more meaningful.
and yes you can call me Dr. Siakam 😂"
Even though Siakam has been firmly out of the Raptors' picture for quite some time now, as I’ve previously mentioned, his influence through charitable work, particularly via his PS43 Foundation, continues to resonate across Canada and beyond. Just last December, Siakam visited students from Toronto's Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) for an event dedicated to his foundation's Data Dunkers program, an initiative that aims to inspire students to develop data science skills through basketball.
Whenever you see a basketball figure returning to their roots, or continuing to give back in a very honorable capacity, it is truly a commendable act. In Siakam's case, it stands as a testament to his generous and kind-hearted character, as well as his desire to use basketball as a beacon for global change and youth empowerment — much like another key figure in Raptors history, Masai Ujiri.
But we can certainly credit Pascal Siakam's father, Tchamo, as the main catalyst in shaping the man we see today in "Spicy P."
Pascal's close relationship and admiration for his dad are well known, and it's clear that the Siakam patriarch instilled a strong set of values and aspirations for his children, especially regarding the importance of education. While Siakam would go on to become an NBA star (a dream his father also had for one of his sons), it's evident the value of education remains a core principle for him.
He now uses his platform to emphasize these same ideals to the next generation, and it's great to see an institution giving Pascal Siakam the flowers he rightfully deserves — a tip of the cap, indeed.