<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/indiana-pacers/pacers-news-tyrese-haliburton-reacts-pascal-siakam-embracing-captain-meme');   ga('set', 'title', 'Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton reacts to Pascal Siakam embracing ‘captain’ meme');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Pacers-Tyrese-Haliburton-Pacers-Pascal-Siakam.jpg"><figcaption>Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton reacts to Pascal Siakam embracing ‘captain’ meme</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-08-20T11:24:21-07:00">August 20th, 11:24am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-08-20T11:24:21-07:00">August 20th, 11:24am</time><address><a>Josue Pavon</a>Josue Pavon is an Associate Editor and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer for ClutchPoints. He started his career as a credentialed media member writing about the Boston Celtics for WEEI.com in Boston, where he grew into a local on-camera NBA reporter and podcast host for CLNS Media. Alongside the Celtics radio broadcaster and two-time NBA champion Cedric Maxwell, Josue is the co-host of the Cedric Maxwell podcast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Indiana Pacers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After Indiana Pacers guard <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/indiana-pacers/pacers-news-tyrese-haliburton-fires-up-fans-with-post-achilles-surgery-first">Tyrese Haliburton posted an update on his recovery</a> from a ruptured Achilles injury in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, he posted commented on All-Star Pascal Siakam’s social media, embracing a popular meme. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/indiana-pacers/pacers-news-tyrese-haliburton-missing-hoops-message">Haliburton undoubtedly misses playing basketball amid injury</a>. He isn’t close to playing anytime soon but did recently lace them up as a critical step in the direction of playing again.</p><p>In the meantime, Siakam will take the wheel as the Eastern Conference champion Pacers’ leader in 2025-26, thus Pascal had fun with his Captain Phillips-inspired post, embracing the meme he was often photoshopped to amid Haliburton’s injury. Siakam posted a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DNisLosNPHq/?hl=en&amp;img_index=1" rel="noopener">picture of himself driving a boat</a> on his Instagram.</p><p>“Fine, I’m the captain now,” Siakam said, to which Haliburton replied, “bout time,” acompanied by three crying-laughing emojis in the comments.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="instagram-media"><div style="padding: 16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DNisLosNPHq/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="display: flex;"><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div><div style="display: flex;"><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div><div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"><div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div><div style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div><div></div><div></div><div></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div><div></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"><div></div><div></div><div></div></div></div><div style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 24px;"><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div><p></p></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DNisLosNPHq/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Pascal Siakam (@pskills43)</a></p></div></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>Haliburton’s comments hilariously pokes fun at Siakam taking the popular memes of him in stride, fittingly, ahead of a 2025-26 campaign where the Pacers will return most likely without Tyrese all season long. After losing starting center Myles Turner, who agreed to a three-year deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, in free agency, the Pacers signed free agent James Wiseman.</p><p>Head coach Rick Carlisle and the Pacers will look to build off their NBA Finals appearance in Haliburton’s absence next season.</p><h2><b>Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton’s message about missing hoops</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Pacers-Tyrese-Haliburton.jpg"><figcaption>Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>After losing Tyrese Haliburton in the first half of Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Thunder, Pacers fans will always wonder “What if,” regarding their team’s chances of winning a title. Pushing the Thunder to the brink, Haliburton, amidst a right calf strain, led the Pacers to an inspring 108-91 blowout win in Game 6 to force a do-or-die matchup at the Paycom Center.</p><p>After scoring nine points in seven minutes, Haliburton suffered a ruptured Achilles and is expected to miss the 2025-26 campaign. While rehabbing throughout the summer, Haliburton <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1953295085514231928" rel="noopener">posted a three-worded message</a> that evoked the kind of emotional response that truly resonated with Pacers fans, on his Instagram.</p><p>“I miss baseketball”</p><p>Pacers guards Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, Ben Sheppard, and veteran T.J. McConnell, will most likely take on increased roles in the backcourt for head coach Rick Carlisle. Back-up point guard Johnny Furphy could also be in line for an increased role as the aforementioned guards have already established themselves as part of Carlisle’s rotation over the past two seasons with an opporutnity to take on more on the horizon.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton reacts to Pascal Siakam embracing ‘captain’ meme

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/indiana-pacers/pascal-siakam-nearly-turned-down-nba-to-become-priest');   ga('set', 'title', 'Pacers’ Pascal Siakam nearly turned down the NBA to become a priest');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Pascal-Siakam.jpg"><figcaption>Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Pacers’ Pascal Siakam nearly turned down the NBA to become a priest</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-03T11:17:46-07:00">July 3rd, 11:17am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-03T11:17:46-07:00">July 3rd, 11:17am</time><address><a>Derick Quinanola</a>With a proficient background in basketball, NFL, and football, Derick Quinanola uses his knowledge to write blogs for readers that are both entertaining and informative. He has been writing with ClutchPoints for years and has developed an understanding of the type of content fans resonate with.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Evergreen</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Indiana Pacers star <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/pacers-news-pascal-siakam-reflects-on-indiana-environment-after-failed-game-7-mission">Pascal Siakam has built an impressive NBA resume</a> ever since he got drafted in 2016. He’s an All-Star, an NBA champion, and has made over <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/nba/player/_/id/20232/pascalsiakam" rel="noopener">$180 million</a> in contract earnings. However, if he never had a change of heart 16 years ago, Siakam would’ve never even considered playing basketball.</p><h2><b>Siakam was sent to seminary school when he was 11 to become a priest</b></h2><p>Growing up in Douala, Cameroon, basketball was on the radar for Siakam. His three older brothers had blazed the trail, all earning D1 scholarships in the U.S. Boris played at Western Kentucky University. Christian played at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). Meanwhile, James played at Vanderbilt University.</p><p>Naturally, Siakam figured he’d follow in their footsteps, especially since his father had always dreamt about having one of his sons make the NBA.</p><p>However, what Siakam didn’t know was that his father had other plans for him. At 11, he was hand-picked to embody his family’s Catholicism, as per a 2020 article from <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23396205/nba-pascal-siakam-6000-mile-journey-raptors-stardom?ex_cid=DSS-Affiliate-Impact-Content-Business%2BInsider.-531511" rel="noopener">ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan</a>. He was enrolled at St. Andrew’s Seminary and Siakam entered with good spirits… At first.</p><p>“I would never go against his wishes,” Siakam said. “There isn’t a better man I’ve known in my life.”</p><p>By the time he was 15, Siakam felt a desire to pursue something else. He began acting out, skipping classes, and pushing boundaries. He wasn’t a troublemaker by nature; he just didn’t want to be a priest anymore.</p><p>Seminary director Father Armel Collins Ndjama knew exactly what Siakam was trying to do. However, since his <a href="https://ucatholic.com/blog/meet-pascal-siakam-from-seminarian-to-nba-champion/" rel="noopener">academic results were too good</a>, he decided to keep him around.</p><p>Siakam graduated to finish what he initially came there to do, then left the seminary right after.</p><h2><b>Pacers’ Pascal Siakam was discovered at Luc Mbah a Moute’s basketball camp</b></h2><p>Despite growing up in a family that cherished the game of basketball, Siakam first wanted to pursue soccer. Everything changed in 2011 when he tagged along with some of his childhood friends to see what former NBA player Luc Mbah a Moute’s free basketball camps were like, aka the same basketball camp Joel Embiid was discovered.</p><p>By virtue of having three brothers play in the NCAA, Siakam automatically got a spot to one of the camps. He wasn’t good, but he did show two things that can’t be taught. Physical tools — standing at 6-foot-8 — and immense hustle.</p><p>After another year of attending the camps, Siakam was invited to Basketball Without Borders. That’s where scouts really started to take notice.</p><p>From there, it was a whirlwind. He moved to Texas to play for God’s Academy, then committed to New Mexico State in 2013. In his sophomore year, Siakam averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds, earning WAC Player of the Year honors.</p><p>By 2016, Siakam applied for the NBA draft and was taken by the Toronto Raptors with the 27th pick of the draft.</p><h2><b>How has Pascal Siakam’s NBA career panned out thus far?</b></h2><p>Since then, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/indiana-pacers/pacers-news-how-pascal-siakam-6-year-journey-paved-road-to-nba-finals">Siakam has become one of the most underappreciated stars in the league</a>. In nine seasons, Siakam has more than exceeded his initial draft position, winning a championship with the Toronto Raptors and recently reaching the NBA Finals again with the Pacers in 2024-25.</p><ul><li>NBA champion (2019)</li><li>Most Improved Player of the Year (2019)</li><li>Three-time All-Star</li><li>Two-time All-NBA</li><li>First G-Leaguer to start in an All-Star Game</li><li>2025 Eastern Conference Playoff MVP</li></ul><p>Not too bad for someone who only started playing basketball 14 years ago.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Pacers’ Pascal Siakam nearly turned down the NBA to become a priest

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-news-noa-essengue-pascal-siakam-comparison');   ga('set', 'title', 'Bulls’ Noa Essengue draws Pascal Siakam comparison');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Chicago-Bulls-forward-Noa-Essengue.jpg"><figcaption>Brad Penner-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Bulls’ Noa Essengue draws Pascal Siakam comparison</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-26T13:44:06-07:00">June 26th, 1:44pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-26T13:44:06-07:00">June 26th, 1:44pm</time><address><a>Zachary Howell</a>Zachary Howell is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints focusing on creating premier MLB content. He is a big fan of the Yankees, Oklahoma City Thunder and the Syracuse Orange. In his free time, he likes to be outside or read.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Chicago Bulls</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Chicago Bulls selected <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/chicago-bulls/grading-chicago-bulls-noa-essengue-2025-nba-draft-pick">Noa Essengue with the 12th pick in the NBA Draft</a>. Essengue, who spent last season playing in the EuroCup and BBL, was one of the youngest players in this year’s draft class. After his arrival to Chicago, one scout had high praise for the 18-year-old, comparing him to Indiana Pacers All-Star forward Pascal Siakam.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/2025-nba-mock-draft-5-0-76ers-hornets-ace-bailey-destiny-latest-intel">Essengue was projected to be picked at No. 10</a> in ClutchPoints’ NBA Insider Brett Siegel’s latest mock draft. Instead, the prospect fell two spots to the Bulls. He joins a young core featuring players like Coby White, Josh Giddey, Patrick Williams, and 2024 lottery pick Matas Buzelis.</p><p>CHSN Bulls Insider K.C. Johnson spoke with NBA scouts about Essengue leading up to the draft. According to him, one scout said that Siakam is a <a href="https://x.com/CHSN_Bulls/status/1938325592488751187" rel="noopener">“high end”</a> comparison for what the French forward could become.</p><p>While Chicago fans hope that the comparison ends up coming true, they could have to wait a while. Siakam took multiple years to develop before blossoming into a star in Indiana. For now, Essengue joins Buzelis and Williams as long-term projects for the Bulls’ development team.</p><p>Chicago’s general manager, Marc Eversley, <a href="https://x.com/CHSN_Bulls/status/1938283510323630577" rel="noopener">is excited to welcome</a> Essengue to Chicago and begin working with him.</p><p>“He[Essengue] certainly fits the way we want to play,” Eversley said. “But when you’re picking at No. 12, we made the decision internally that we’re going to pick the best player available. It’s twofold; best player available, and he fits the style of play that we want to play.”</p><p>Essengue’s new teammates are also happy to have him join the team. Williams appeared on the <i>By The Horns </i>podcast with Johnson to <a href="https://x.com/CHSN_Bulls/status/1938263263591993561" rel="noopener">speak about the pick</a>.</p><p>“I’m loving the pick,” Williams said. “I’m excited. I think he’ll fit right in with exactly what we’re trying to do, how we’re trying to play, so it’ll be fun.”</p><p>Siakam helped lead the Pacers all the way to the NBA Finals this season. Chicago’s aspirations are not quite that ambitious, but fans can’t wait to see what Essengue can bring to the table in his rookie season.</p><p>On a team with young players like White and Buzelis, the newest member of the Bulls has a chance to lead the team into a new era.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Bulls’ Noa Essengue draws Pascal Siakam comparison

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/toronto-raptors/raptors-news-noa-essengue-scottie-barnes-pascal-siakam-comparisons');   ga('set', 'title', 'Noa Essengue turns heads with Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam comparisons amid Raptors');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Raptors-news-Noa-Essengue-turns-heads-with-Scottie-Barnes-Pascal-Siakam-comparisons.jpg"></figure><h1>Noa Essengue turns heads with Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam comparisons amid Raptors</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-24T21:38:09-07:00">June 24th, 9:38pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-24T21:42:13-07:00">June 24th, 9:42pm</time><address><a>Erik Slater</a>Erik Slater is the credentialed Brooklyn Nets beat reporter for ClutchPoints. He's a graduate of Lehigh University and the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, as well as a Lehigh Football and Syracuse Football alum.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>French phenom <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/toronto-raptors/toronto-raptors-3-best-options-no-9-pick-2025-nba-draft">Noa Essengue will be among the Toronto Raptors’ top realistic options</a> with the No. 9 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. On Tuesday, ClutchPoints <a href="https://twitter.com/erikslater_/status/1937601211223646225" rel="noopener">asked the projected lottery pick</a> which NBA players he models his game after.</p><p>“I’d say guys like Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes, Kawhi [Leonard]. They can really do everything on the court. Play defense, dribble, shooting,” he replied.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Asked Noa Essengue if there are any NBA players he studies or models his game after:</p><p>“I’d say guys like Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes, Kawhi. They can really do everything on the court. Play defense, dribble, shooting.” <a href="https://t.co/5cWSMsvftS">pic.twitter.com/5cWSMsvftS</a></p><p>— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) <a href="https://twitter.com/erikslater_/status/1937601211223646225?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>The response quickly caught the eyes of Raptors fans. Toronto is projected to select Essengue with the No. 9 pick in ESPN’s latest mock draft.</p><p>Could his allusion to the team’s current and former stars be an indication of what’s to come?</p><h2>Noa Essengue says he models game after Raptors stars after ahead of 2025 NBA draft</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Nets-news-Noa-Essengue-skipping-German-playoffs-to-attend-draft-amid-links-to-Nets-2.jpg"></figure><p>Essengue would check several boxes Masai Ujiri has prioritized in past prospects. At 6-foot-10 barefoot with a 7-foot-1 wingspan and fluid athleticism, the 18-year-old forward boasts impressive two-way upside.</p><p>Essengue has been impressive this season while playing in the BBL, Germany’s top professional league. He has averaged 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists on 52/28/71 shooting splits in 22.8 minutes per game for Ratiopharm Ulm.</p><p>Offensively, Essengue has been effective as a transition ball-handler, roll man and secondary self-creator, posting a 62.5 true shooting percentage. He’s been a free-throw drawing machine, attempting 7.6 per 36 minutes and converting 70.7 percent. Adding weight to his 204-pound frame while improving his raw handle and outside shot could elevate his game to another level down the line.</p><p>Essengue’s length and nimble feet offer immense versatility defensively, something the Raptors have placed a premium on under Ujiri.</p><p>The French prospect <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/nets-news-noa-essengue-skipping-german-finals-attend-draft-links-nets">will continue to be linked to Toronto</a> leading up to the team’s pick on Wednesday night. Meanwhile, Bleacher Report projects the Brooklyn Nets to select him at No. 8, while several <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/portland-trail-blazers-perfect-outcome-pick-2025-nba-draft">other mock drafts have him coming off the board</a> in the late lottery or mid-teens.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Noa Essengue turns heads with Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam comparisons amid Raptors

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/indiana-pacers/pacers-news-pascal-siakam-reflects-on-indiana-environment-after-failed-game-7-mission');   ga('set', 'title', 'Pascal Siakam reflects on Pacers environment after failed Game 7 mission');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/IMG_1698.jpeg"><figcaption>Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Pascal Siakam reflects on Pacers environment after failed Game 7 mission</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-22T23:23:05-07:00">June 22nd, 11:23pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-22T23:23:05-07:00">June 22nd, 11:23pm</time><address><a href="https://letterboxd.com/splooshpuhrty/films/by/your-rating/">Jedd Pagaduan</a>Jedd Pagaduan is a certified Clippers and Gunners fan, which means he's a very sports-traumatized individual. He now writes about sports instead as a form of therapy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Indiana Pacers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>It’s hard to imagine just how much heartbreak and pain the Indiana Pacers are feeling right now after coming so close yet so far of an NBA championship. Not only did they lose Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals to the Oklahoma City Thunder, 103-91, they also <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/indiana-pacers/pacers-news-tyrese-haliburton-exit-highlights-jayson-tatum-similarity-beyond-injury">lost Tyrese Haliburton to an Achilles injury</a> that is likely to keep him out for quite a long period of time. There is so much devastation around the Pacers after they let their best chance as a franchise to win a championship slip away from their fingertips.</p><p>Nonetheless, not too many believed that the Pacers could make it this far in the playoffs. But the players had unshakeable belief in what they could accomplish and came to within just one win away from a title, and for a good while, the Pacers’ loyal fanbase believed that this team could perhaps be the one that gets the franchise over the hump.</p><p>As for Pascal Siakam, he credited the Pacers’ fanbase for instilling so much belief in them and vice versa. Siakam also made sure to tell them that they <a href="https://x.com/ScottAgness/status/1936990219263234254" rel="noopener">gave it their all</a>, heartbreaking result in Game 7 of the NBA Finals notwithstanding.</p><p>“It was refreshing to be in that environment and to see how much basketball means for people (in Indiana). I hope you guys can see that we fought hard and we couldn’t get it done,” Siakam said, per Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files.</p><p>Next season is going to be a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/indiana-pacers/pacers-news-tj-mcconnell-hits-indiana-with-harsh-reality-check-after-nba-finals-loss">more difficult one for the Pacers</a>. The entire league will be wary of what they’re capable of, and to make matters worse, they’re likely not going to have Haliburton at all for its entirety.</p><p>But if there’s a lesson to be learned in this year’s playoffs, it’s that these Pacers can never be counted out in any capacity.</p><h2><b>Pascal Siakam has transformed the Pacers</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Pacers-All-Star-Pascal-Siakam-1.jpg"><figcaption>Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>This Pacers team became what it is today upon the arrival of Siakam via trade from the Toronto Raptors in early 2024. Siakam was such a crucial, do-it-all piece, a big forward who can feast on mismatches, create shots for himself and his teammates, and play incredible defense both on and off the ball.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/indiana-pacers/pacers-news-tyrese-haliburton-pascal-siakam-winning-ecf-mvp">Siakam was the Eastern Conference Finals MVP</a> for a reason, and he was the Pacers’ most consistent player throughout the entire postseason. He probably would have been the favorite to win the NBA Finals MVP award had Indiana managed to take care of business in Game 7. But alas, Siakam and company look to do it again in the coming years — this time looking to finish the job.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
20.2	6.9	3.4	0.5	0.9

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
20.2	6.9	3.4	0.5	0.9

Pascal Siakam

Latest Pascal Siakam News

Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton reacts to Pascal Siakam embracing ‘captain’ meme

Pacers’ Pascal Siakam nearly turned down the NBA to become a priest

Bulls’ Noa Essengue draws Pascal Siakam comparison

Noa Essengue turns heads with Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam comparisons amid Raptors

Pascal Siakam reflects on Pacers environment after failed Game 7 mission

Pascal
Siakam