Pascal Siakam’s incredible rise continues, from last season’s Most Improved Player to being voted in as an All-Star starter on Thursday.
Joining Siakam in the starting lineup is Joel Embiid, who also hails from the country of Cameroon. When asked by reporters about the third All-Star nod of his career, Embiid says that he’s actually much more excited for Siakam than himself.
Embiid became Cameroon’s first ever NBA All-Star in 2017, and now Siakam becomes the second. Both players, born in 1994, only began playing basketball eight or nine years ago, says Embiid, and it’s been a thrill to watch their development into stars.
The Toronto Raptors and the Philadelphia 76ers have had their battles over the last little while — Game 7, anyone? — but it’s great to see these two supporting each other. Siakam’s reaction upon learning of his All-Star nod makes clear just how much this means to him.
