The former Toronto Raptors teammate will compete on the big stage in the Eastern Conference Finals.
When the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers face off in the NBA playoffs for the second year in a row, there could be a few watchers who will intrigue them from Toronto.
Matchup has won two members of the Toronto Raptors’ 2019 NBA Championship winning team, along with Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby, from each other.
The duo faced off in the Eastern Conference semi-finals last year, with the Pacers leading the way 4-3 in the series.
Pascal Siakam built up his true feelings about the loss of his Raptors teammates in December 2023 when the two were traded with the New York Knicks.
Siakam’s precious Achihua set off alongside OG Anunoby, with the Raptors winning RJ Barrett, Inmanuel Quickly and the 2024 second round pick.
At the time, Siakam began: “I think it’s obviously a difficult day. It changes and things happen like that. It’s not easy. It’s the NBA, I’ve seen these things happen.”
Siakam also paid particular tribute to Anunoby, who played together for six years.
He said:
“When all these things happen, I’m just trying my best to everyone and hope that incredible things happen to him and that he has everything he wants and deserves.”
He also added about Achiuwa:
Pascal Siakam was right to admit how players could suddenly trade in order to get the doors of Toronto sent to their neighbors.
Siakam was traded with the Indiana Pacers in January 2024 as part of the Raptors’ efforts to demolish their previous team and start a new one.
Siakam was even more surprised by his own move, saying, “I never asked for a deal. This may sound naive, but I felt I could be one of the guys who would spend his entire career on one team. That was even the rumours that was my way of thinking.”
In a whirlwind of months that began in 2024, Siakam and his former teammates fought in the playoffs, but now they’ve met again and met with even higher stakes.
In 2025, both OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam are fully entrenched in their current teams, both looking to win their first NBA title since 2019.
There’s a hype in the Eastern Conference Finals, bringing out the semi-final confusion for both teams to get there.
There is a rivalry, especially after last year’s series, but there is a lot of love and respect between Anunoby and Siakam.