NBA ALL-STAR MEDIA DAY

February 18, 2023

Pascal Siakam

Media Day Press Conference

Q. Is there one thing about LeBron that you kind of compete against him that you now understand, maybe something you didn't realize before?

PASCAL SIAKAM: Yeah, obviously I didn't really watch a lot of basketball before I got to play in the NBA. I just think the consistency is crazy. That's something that you watch from afar, and just seeing someone who has been there every single day in and out for year 19 or something, 20, like that's insane. Being at that level consistently, I think for me, just seeing that up close is just so incredible. Just being great at such a high level for that long.

Q. (On LeBron retiring.)

PASCAL SIAKAM: Yeah, I don't know. I think he's probably going to slow down whenever he wants to slow down. It feels like he can play forever. It looks like it.

Q. Talk a little bit about why basketball is so popular in Africa.

PASCAL SIAKAM: Yeah, I think obviously it's getting more popular, and the game is growing. I think in Africa we always felt like we had the talent, and I feel like there's more eyes now. There's more things -- obviously the NBA is helping a lot, and there's more eyes, more eyes on the continent. For a lot of us, all we need is an opportunity, and I think that opportunity is being given more and more as the years go. I think it's going to get even better.

Q. What position would you play if you were a soccer player?

PASCAL SIAKAM: Me? Striker. Yeah. Simple.

Q. Obviously everybody has a journey; how does it feel to be in this All-Star?

PASCAL SIAKAM: It feels incredible. Obviously kudos to you. I watch you. I love the passion. I love the energy, and obviously coming from where you come from, it's dope. It's dope to see. I love watching it.

I'm from New York at heart. I'm from Africa, but at heart I'm in New York, so I love that energy. I think for me, it's great. Just seeing the journey, working so hard to achieve something and being able to do it, from where I come from, we don't really see that. We don't see it at all. Yeah, it's been like a journey, and I'm just enjoying it.

Q. Nikola Jokic is a two-time MVP. What do you respect most about his game?

PASCAL SIAKAM: I just think that he just plays at his own pace. You can't really disrupt what he does. He just plays at his own pace. He does what he wants. His passing ability, the scoring, how smart he is on the basketball court, yeah, it's dope to watch.

Q. No players in NBA history have ever won three consecutive MVPs. Do you think he's deserving to be in that class?

PASCAL SIAKAM: I have no idea. Obviously, his play is incredible. He's one of those type players in the league, so I wouldn't be surprised if he won it. But again, I really don't know how that -- it's not up to me.

Q. You have a big fan base in Brazil.

PASCAL SIAKAM: I love Brazil.

Q. Do you have a message for the Brazilian fans?

PASCAL SIAKAM: I love Brazil. Obviously we had Lucas Nogueira, Bruno Caboclo on our teams when I was coming up. I love those guys, like their energy. I just feel like it's a beautiful country. I've never been, but I want to go. Shout-out to the fans out there. I appreciate their support. I always see the Brazilians are really heavy on Toronto, so it's dope to see.