The Indiana Pacers are headed to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000, defeating the New York Knicks in six games to clinch the Eastern Conference crown. With a dominant 4–2 series win, Indiana showcased balance, resilience, and star power—none more impactful than that of Pascal Siakam, who earned the Eastern Conference Finals MVP honors.
While the award recognizes Siakam’s stellar play, the veteran forward admitted with a laugh that he didn’t even know the trophy existed. “I didn’t know they had a trophy for that,” Siakam said during his postgame press conference. “I know I’m not the guy everyone talks about a lot. I’m just a young kid from Cameroon who gave everything to the game of basketball. I don’t cheat the work.”
Whether or not he knew about the Larry Bird Trophy, Siakam left no doubt he earned it. The 30-year-old averaged 24.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game in the series, scoring 30 or more points in three contests—including a clutch 31-point performance in Game 6 to close out the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
In that decisive game, Siakam added five rebounds, three assists, three blocks, and a steal while shooting 10-of-18 from the field, 3-of-5 from three-point range, and 8-of-11 from the line. He secured five of nine media votes to edge out teammate Tyrese Haliburton for the MVP honor.
A native of Douala, Cameroon, Siakam’s path to the NBA has been anything but conventional. He was discovered by fellow Cameroonian and NBA veteran Luc Mbah a Moute, who helped him make the journey to the United States. From there, Siakam’s work ethic and development turned him into one of the league’s great international success stories—and a two-time NBA Finals participant.
This postseason run marks a turning point for Indiana. The Pacers took down the Milwaukee Bucks in five games, stunned the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in another five-game series, and then outlasted the Knicks in six to return to the league’s biggest stage.
Siakam’s veteran presence, steady production, and leadership have been crucial every step of the way—and now he has another opportunity to add to his legacy on the NBA’s grandest stage.