Pascal Siakam is doing everything the Pacers could have hoped for-and then some. The 31-year-old forward is putting together one of the most productive seasons of his career, leading Indiana in nearly every major statistical category.
But as impressive as his numbers are, the bigger picture for the Pacers right now isn’t about wins and losses-it’s about protecting their future. And that future hinges on keeping Siakam healthy.
Through 25 games, Siakam is averaging 23.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, while shooting 47.6% from the field and 35.9% from beyond the arc. He’s logging 34 minutes a night and carrying a career-high 28.7% usage rate. That’s a heavy workload for any player, let alone one in his 30s, and especially on a team that’s currently sitting at 6-20.
Let’s be clear: the Pacers’ struggles aren’t on Siakam. If anything, they’re happening in spite of him.
He’s been the engine keeping this team competitive on a nightly basis, even as injuries and inconsistency have made this season more about development than contention. But that’s exactly why Indiana needs to be cautious.
As Caitlin Cooper recently pointed out on the Setting the Pace podcast, protecting Siakam should be priority No. 1 for the rest of the season. And she’s absolutely right. If anything were to happen to Siakam-especially in a year where the postseason is already slipping out of reach-it would be a major setback for a franchise that’s still building toward something bigger.
Siakam isn’t just a placeholder while Tyrese Haliburton recovers. He’s a foundational piece next to Haliburton, someone who can be a No. 1 option on any given night and a matchup nightmare when the Pacers are fully healthy. His ability to create offense, defend multiple positions, and lead by example makes him invaluable-not just this season, but for the seasons to come.
That’s why Indiana needs to manage his minutes, ease up on his usage, and ensure he’s not carrying more than he needs to. There’s no trophy for grinding through a 6-20 season, but there’s real value in keeping your stars fresh and healthy for when the games do matter again.
And that time is coming. Once Haliburton is back in the fold, this team has the ingredients to compete.
Maybe not this season, given the hole they’ve dug, but the Eastern Conference remains wide open. With a healthy Haliburton-Siakam duo, the Pacers can absolutely re-enter the contender conversation as soon as next year.
But none of that matters if Siakam isn’t right. So for now, the smart play is the safe play.
Let him rest when needed. Scale back the minutes.
Tinker with lineups and rotations. Use the rest of this season to experiment, develop, and protect your core.
Because if Indiana plays this right, they’re not far from turning the corner. And when they do, Siakam will be at the heart of it.