Pascal Siakam isn’t interested in style points. For the veteran forward, the Pacers’ identity starts with grit, not flash, and he made that clear in comments shared in a video posted to his X, formerly Twitter.
“You can't make a name off playing good basketball. You gotta be a dog,” Siakam said.
“There's nothing else. No pretty basketball is going to get you anywhere here.
I didn’t make it to the league on “cool’ basketball pic.twitter.com/0YsJMUc2Re
— pascal siakam (@pskills43) August 31, 2026
On our team, no way.”
Siakam, a four-time Indiana Pacers All-Star who is heading into his 11th NBA season, also pushed back on the idea that Indiana tanked in 2025-26. That comes with the Pacers coming off a Game 7 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder and looking to get back into the playoff mix with Tyrese Haliburton returning for the upcoming season.
The Pacers forward said the team’s daily competition is what forces everyone to keep sharpening their game.
“Ty's going to pound the rock. Drew's going to pound the rock.
TJ… we're not getting to do that,” Siakam added while mentioning teammates, Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, and TJ McConnell. “So, we got to find other ways to be impactful.
Can you attack still? Can you run for your spot?
When you get tired, you can't settle. There's no way.
You have to keep going.”
Siakam said that kind of pressure is exactly what pulls the best out of Indiana’s roster. It’s the kind of environment that exposes weaknesses, demands response, and keeps players working. With Ivica Zubac entering his first full season in Indiana and Haliburton back after suffering a ruptured Achilles in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, Siakam sounds ready for what’s next.
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Ivica Zubac Is Giving Pacers Fans A Very Intriguing Early Sign
Ivica Zubac is already giving Pacers fans a reason to lean in, even before he has logged a regular-season minute in Indiana. The big man turned in a strong showing for Croatia in international play, finishing with 24 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks, a reminder of the size, finishing touch and rim protection the Pacers are hoping to plug into their frontcourt after bringing him in via trade.
For Indiana, the appeal is obvious: Zubacs skill set fits a team looking to solidify its interior presence and add reliability around the basket. He has not suited up for the Pacers in a regular-season game yet, so the real judgment remains ahead, but early signs like this are exactly why the move has drawn attention among fans eager to see what kind of impact he can make once the games count in Indianapolis. [Read more 🡒]
Pascal Siakam Is Setting A New Tone For Pacers Camp
Before Pacers training camp even got rolling, Pascal Siakam was already doing the kind of work that can shape a season. He hosted a pre-camp workout in Orlando for several teammates, and the setting fit the message: get together early, build habits and start leaning into the details that matter when the games get physical and the margin for error shrinks.
Siakams talk centered on effort over flash, with a clear push for the forwards to embrace the dirty work that often decides how far a team can go. Cutting hard, setting screens, defending and attacking the rim were all part of the message, along with playing with intensity instead of worrying about style. For Indiana, that kind of early leadership is exactly what you want from a veteran brought in to help set the tone. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Face A Brutal East Race With Almost No Margin For Error
The Eastern Conference has turned into the kind of race where a promising start can still leave a team scrambling, and Indiana is feeling that pressure as much as anyone. With several East clubs looking dangerous and little room to breathe in the standings, the Pacers cannot afford a slow opening if they want to stay in the playoff picture. Their path is less about one dramatic leap and more about holding ground every night in a league that punishes even brief lapses.
Tyrese Haliburton sits at the center of that equation, because Indianas ceiling and stability both hinge on his health and production. The Pacers have the pieces to make noise, but in a conference this unforgiving, good intentions are not enough, and every stretch of inconsistency can quickly become a problem. For Indiana, the challenge is not just reaching the playoffs. It is getting there before the East closes the door. [Read more 🡒]