No one realised the impact Cameroonian power forward Pascal Siakam would have on the industry; he didn’t envision it himself as a little child. 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.

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. The number 4 represents the men in his family (Pascal, his two brothers, and Tchamo) and 3 represents the women (Victorie and his two sisters). He’s said that this way, they’ll always have his back and remind him of who he’s putting in shifts day-in day-out for. Unfortunately for the Siakam family, Papa Siakam tragically passed away due to complications from being in a car accident back in 2014.

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.

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.

Pascal Siakam to rep Chuck’s Global Stars in the 2025 All-Star game

Siakam is averaging 20.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists this season for the Pacers. This got him into the 2025 All-Stars game representing Chuck’s Global Stars, led by the one and only Charles Barkley. He will be partnering with the likes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Wembanyama, Nikola Jokic, and Trae Young in what will be his 3rd All-Star appearance.

“I’m blessed to be a part of this team. The support that I’ve had since I’ve been here has been just amazing. I don’t think I’ve had an organization just showing so much support from top to bottom, but it’s been awesome and I’m so grateful for it. It would mean a lot to represent the Pacers out there in All-Star Weekend,” says Pascal on his selection. Him being in the line-up not only shows his importance to the Pacers and their hunt for an Eastern play-offs position, but also his representation of an international African audience that’s present in abundance in the NBA.

The work done by his late father Tchamo and mother Victoria shows on every day Pascal sets foot on the court. He might have a new home at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse after signing for the Pacers earlier this season, but his upbringing back in Cameroon speaks volumes of his character and the values his parents set from the get-go.