No one realised the impact Cameroonian power forward Pascal Siakam would have on the industry; he didn’t envision it himself. After being picked up by the Toronto Raptors as the 27th overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft, he went on to win the whole thing with the Canadian roster in their historic 2019 winning run. In what was just his 3rd season in the Association, he was one of the most pivotal players, averaging 16.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game as he inspired the Raptors to make history. He’s since been picked up by the Indiana Pacers, and isn’t showing any signs of slowing down.

This wasn’t what little Pascal thought he’d be doing for a living. Growing up in Cameroon, he wanted to become a catholic priest after registering at the St. Andrew’s Seminary. But his father always knew best, when he saw the talent Pascal was showing from a young age, he knew this was the career he needed to follow. Let’s dive into Siakam’s parents’ lives and see how that shaped the man he is today.

Who are Pascal Siakam’s parents?

‘Spicy P’ was born in Douala, Cameroon on 2nd April, 1994, to Tchamo and Victorie Siakam. Tchamo was the Mayor of Makenene in Cameroon. His father had envisioned all his kids being pro ballers- Pascal’s older brothers earned scholarships with the sport to various NCAA Division I colleges. But after switching from soccer to basketball to honour his father’s wishes by the age of 15, Pascal himself was discovered as a player at a local camp by Luc Mbah a Moute.

Who is Pascal Siakam’s father, Tchamo? Was he a professional basketball player?

Tchamo played basketball in Cameroon, wearing the number 43 jersey. Pascal continued his legacy after signing for the NBA, wearing the number 43 for as long as he’s been in the NBA. Unfortunately for the Siakam family, their father tragically passed away from internal injuries from a car accident in 2014. Siakam Sr. survived for four days with his wife by his side before succumbing to death.

It’s sad to see that Tchamo couldn’t see his son’s success while fulfilling his dream and playing in the NBA. “I ask myself what my father would think of me making it to the NBA every day,” Siakam told B/R. “I hope he’s proud. I hope he’s watching down and realizing that his dream became a reality. But that’s a question I ask myself every day.”

We’re sure Tchamo will be looking down on the career of his son, filled to the brim with happy tears.

Who is Pascal Siakam’s mother, Victorie?

Much isn’t known about his mother, Victorie Siakam. She likes to keep herself away from the public eye, after seeing her 4 sons, Pascal, Boris, Christian, and James, represent the Siakam family in the American basketball scene. What we do know is Pascal’s efforts to keep his mother loved and cared for despite the pressure of the big stages. Since the passing of Tchamo, he and Victorie haven’t been able to call a place ‘home’. This led to him buying a house for her after his 2019 NBA Finals win while playing for the Raptors.

“Hard worker, and always holding the family down, doing everything. And now with my dad gone, she’s there for all of us,” says Siakam about his mother. Victorie might not be the kind to openly show emotions, but Pascal’s mom has been the backbone of the Siakam family.

Pascal Siakam’s siblings

Pascal might have been the last one to join the NBA dream. But he sure made an impact. And his brothers—and his sisters—each have a hand in it. His three older brothers—Boris, Christian, and James—paved the way before him, each carving out their own journey through the NCAA circuit in the United States.

Boris, the eldest and eight years older, played at Western Kentucky. He was already stateside, chasing hoops dreams, when Pascal was still trying to figure out whether he wanted to dribble a basketball or pen policies in government service. Christian, six years older, followed closely, suiting up for Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). And then there was James, the closest in age to Pascal (just a two-year age difference) and the one he always seemed to be chasing after—whether it was on the field, on the court, or just trying to prove he could keep up.

“You don’t even like basketball!” James joked when Pascal first told him he’d been invited to play at a prep school in Texas. And honestly? It was true—up until that moment, Pascal didn’t like basketball enough to think about a career in it. He was the soccer kid. The seminarian. The quiet dreamer.

But there’s something powerful about seeing people who look like you—who are you—chasing a dream and turning it into something real. One by one, his brothers left Cameroon to pursue basketball, and with each departure, the seed grew. They may not have known it at the time, but their decisions shaped Pascal’s future more than they could’ve imagined. When he finally made it to the States himself, the calls home weren’t just to hear familiar voices—they were to get help understanding the playbook, the lifestyle, the culture. They were lifelines. His brothers had been through it all, and they passed their lessons down to their youngest teammate.

His two sisters—Vanessa and Raïssa—were more behind-the-scenes but just as impactful. Vanessa was the reason Pascal even considered going to Basketball Without Borders camp in South Africa. He hadn’t seen her in years and figured it’d be a good excuse to visit, maybe shoot a few hoops. Raïssa, the eldest sister, has been a strong emotional anchor. It was she who broke the news of their father’s passing in 2014, a call that changed everything.

If you’ve ever wondered why Siakam wears number 43, that’s family, too. The number 4 stands for the men in his life—his dad and three brothers. The 3 is for the women—his mom and two sisters. Before every game, he taps the numbers on his jersey like a silent roll call.

And when draft night came—when that No. 43 flashed next to his name—it wasn’t just Pascal’s moment. It was a Siakam family win. They all cried. They all celebrated. They all knew what it had taken to get there. Basketball may have taken their baby brother the longest to embrace, but once he did, he made it count.