Photo : Chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0
Pascal Siakam
From a seminary in Bafia to an NBA championship
Born in 1994
Related city : Douala
Who are they?
A power forward born in Douala in 1994, the son of a mayor of Makénéné. Sent to St Andrew’s Seminary in Bafia at 11, he gave up on the priesthood, was spotted at Luc Mbah a Moute’s camp and went on to play in the United States, at New Mexico State University.
What made them famous
Picked 27th in the 2016 draft by the Toronto Raptors, he was a key part of the 2019 NBA title, the franchise’s first and the first won by a Canadian team. That same season he was named Most Improved Player.
Key facts
- Traded to the Indiana Pacers in January 2024, he was named Eastern Conference Finals MVP in 2025.
- Four All-Star selections: 2020, 2023, 2025 and 2026.
- His three older brothers all played Division I college basketball in the United States.