Siakam won’t rest on laurels as he pushes the limits of his potential

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An all-NBA recognition, while nice and rewarding, is just the tip of the iceberg for the hoopster known as Spicy P.

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Pascal Siakam has been honoured in the past for his individual production on the hardwood, but his latest accolade does have a sweeter feel, he assured one and all during his Zoom availability Friday.

Whether it was enduring the vitriol he received when Siakam came up short for the Raptors in the NBA bubble or going under the knife for the first time to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder, a lot has been thrown and a lot overcome.

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Give Siakam credit, no one can take away the season he posted in helping the Raptors overachieve when many of the so-called pundits didn’t even think the club would be in the post-season.

Toronto would secure the fifth seed in the East and ultimately would be eliminated by Philadelphia in six games in the opening-round of the playoffs.

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The 2022 version of Siakam was the complete package, a scorer who also served as a facilitator, a shot maker who also emerged as a leader.

He did it all and yet Siakam believes more will be summoned.

For the first time in quite some time, Siakam has the luxury of a full off-season to mentally and physically get better.

Whether it’s Siakam or any player of his ilk, they are constantly honing their game looking for that added edge to take them to another level.

He wants to evolve and he wants to be better.

“There are different things I want to do,’’ said Siakam. “There’s a level I want to reach. I want to do things I’ve never done before.”

Siakam was named to the league’s all-NBA third team, the second time in his career he’s reached such lofty status.

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The first involved the league’s second team following Toronto’s 2019 championship season.

Statistically speaking, he put up better numbers this season.

But numbers don’t tell the entire story.

His journey, on many levels, is quite inspiring and remarkable.

Siakam didn’t come out and say it publicly, but one gets the sense he wants to be known as an all-NBA first-team member, a club reserved for the elite of the elites in the NBA.

There’s no reason why he can’t achieve such a lofty level as long as he continues to stay humble and put in the necessary work.

Chances are he will.

The better Siakam gets, the better the Raptors become.

Long terms, the Raptors may in fact become Scottie Barnes’ team.

The rookie of year winner showed a lot of promise, poise and prowess, but he’s nowhere near the finished product as Siakam, who isn’t quite there himself.

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Being able to consistently knock down three-pointers, producing in big-time clutch moments when games are on the line, limiting turnovers, there are areas Siakam can improve and must improve for the Raptors to take that next step.

Siakam is not the type to settle for anything.

He genuinely wants to get better and realizes he must get better.

He’s 28 years old and about to enter the prime of his career.

There were stretches this past season when Siakam was playing at an all-world level.

Siakam knows how things can quickly change and how nothing is assured.

At the same time, he wants more.

In 68 games this past season, Siakam averaged 22.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 5.3 assists.

No player in club history has posted such numbers and he was on an elite list of seven players in the NBA to average such figures in 2022.

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In Raptors franchise history, only Siakam, Vince Carter and DeMar DeRozan were named to multiple all-NBA teams.

Siakam speaks passionately about the journey, expresses gratitude of the achievements, but he’s never lost sight of the humility one must possess.

“I’m more humble, more hungry,’’ he said.

He referred to keeping his foot on the gas as Siakam continues to push the envelope with the goal of getting better.

Even in the darkest of days, Siakam chalked them up as being part of his journey.

“It’s part of the story,’’ he added.

The Spicy P story is far from over.

In many ways, it’s just the beginning.

Big picture, it will be incumbent on the Raptors to surround Siakam with better players.

Barnes isn’t going anywhere and the kid will only get better once he develops a jumper.

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Acquiring shooters, size, a rim protector and rebounders will only add to what Siakam and Barnes can achieve on the floor.

Moving forward, Siakam and Barnes are Toronto’s most impactful players and each has to get better.

For his part, Siakam is excited to get back into the grind of off-season workouts and working with his team.

“I just enjoy that and the whole process of waking up every day, getting to work, just the whole day you have is dedicated to getting better and there’s really nothing else there to take up my time,’’ said Siakam.

“It’s all about basketball and wanting to improve. And spending time with the people I love.”

Not many see the hard work put in behind the scenes, but fans do see the missed shots and the makes when the lights come on.

“When no one is in the gym it’s just you and your team who are in your corner,’’ continued Siakam. “They see you grind … People don’t see the thousand shots you missed or the thousand shots you made. There’s something about that (grind of an off-season) I’m obsessed with.

“And also seeing the results make me more excited with what more can be achieved when you put the work in.”

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