Pascal Siakam is heading back to the All-Star Game - and whether you're looking at the numbers or the impact, it's hard to argue he hasn't earned it. Despite the Indiana Pacers’ struggles this season, Siakam’s fourth All-Star selection is a testament to the kind of player he continues to be: consistent, dynamic, and quietly dominant.
Still, not everyone seems thrilled about it. San Antonio Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox made headlines this week with a pointed comment that, while not naming names, seemed to take aim at Siakam’s selection.
“I saw a team with the worst record in the league have an All-Star,” Fox said during a media appearance. “When I was traded here, I think I was averaging 25 [points per game], and I wasn’t an All-Star. I couldn’t care less.”
It doesn’t take much reading between the lines to connect the dots. The Pacers currently sit at 13-38 - the worst record in the Eastern Conference and third-worst in the league.
And yet, Siakam is an All-Star. Meanwhile, teams like the Kings and Pelicans, who are in the mix out West, didn’t get a single player selected.
Neither did the Wizards or Nets, despite having better records than Indiana.
But here’s the thing: the All-Star Game has always been about individual excellence. It’s not a team award. And in that context, Siakam’s selection makes a whole lot of sense.
Through 48 games, Siakam is averaging 23.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. He’s shooting 48.5% from the field and a career-best 38.1% from three. These aren't empty stats - they’re the numbers of a player doing everything he can to keep his team afloat, even when the wins aren’t coming.
And this isn’t some flash-in-the-pan season either. Siakam is a one-time NBA champion and now a four-time All-Star.
His game has evolved every year, and this season might be one of his most complete yet. He’s been a stabilizing force for Indiana, especially after joining the team midseason, and he’s doing it while adjusting to a new system, new teammates, and a franchise in transition.
Sure, the Pacers' record isn’t pretty. But if we’re talking about who’s playing at an All-Star level, Siakam checks every box. He’s scoring efficiently, making plays, defending at a high level, and doing it all with the kind of poise and professionalism that doesn’t always show up in the box score.
As for Fox, his frustration is understandable. He’s a top-tier guard who’s been playing at an elite level for years.
But the All-Star selection process is never perfect. It’s a mix of fan voting, coach selections, and narrative - and sometimes, deserving players get left out.
That doesn’t mean others didn’t earn their spots.
At the end of the day, Pascal Siakam’s All-Star nod isn’t about team standings. It’s about rewarding elite individual performance. And if you’ve watched him play this season, you know he’s more than deserving of that recognition.