Pascal Siakam says the roots of his philanthropy go back to his father, Tchamo Siakam, whose focus on education and discipline shaped the person he became long before he reached NBA stardom.
The Indiana Pacers forward recently told Andscape that he owes his father everything and wants to keep helping others. For Siakam, that mindset is not new. He said his father was a major advocate of education and wanted to give children the kind of opportunity that can change a life.
A childhood shaped by seminary school
When Siakam was 11, Tchamo Siakam enrolled him at St. Andrew’s Seminary school in the village of Bafia, Cameroon. Vanessa Siakam said their father hoped the experience would not only point Pascal toward the priesthood, but also teach him discipline, responsibility and strong values rooted in faith. She added that he believed the seminary would help Pascal grow into a great man guided by the fear of God.
Pascal Siakam did not stay on that path forever. He was eventually expelled from seminary school because of behavioral issues, but the experience still became part of the foundation he points to when talking about his values. In his own words, “That’s the base. That’s who raised me to be the person I am and the man that I am.”
Why the work matters to him now
Siakam has already built a decorated basketball résumé as an 11-year NBA veteran, a four-time NBA All-Star, a two-time All-NBA selection and a 2019 NBA champion. Through four games this season, he has also been productive on the floor, averaging a team-best 23.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game.
Still, the off-court work remains central to how he sees his platform. Siakam said it was always his father’s dream to help kids get an education, and now that he has the ability to do that, he sees it as a responsibility. “I owe him everything. I want to continue to be impactful and help others,” Siakam said. “That was what I was taught to do at an early age, and I want to continue to do that.”
Keeping his father’s vision alive
Siakam’s charitable outlook has already extended back to Cameroon, where his upbringing continues to shape his perspective. The thread running through it all is simple: his father emphasized education, faith and accountability, and Siakam now says he wants to use his platform to pass that on.
Rick Carlisle has described Siakam as a highly consistent player who is still evolving, noting that great players return each year with something a little bit different and that Siakam continues to work diligently on all aspects of his game. Off the court, the same idea applies. Siakam is not just building a basketball legacy. He is also trying to honor the one his father helped create.
