Pascal Siakam paid tribute to Toronto after being traded away from his longtime NBA home, telling fans he considered himself a “Raptor forever.”
The former Toronto Raptor turned Indiana Pacer shared a video on X (formerly Twitter) with the caption “Toronto Forever,” along with a red heart emoji and a hashtag nodding to his jersey number.
“To the fans, to Raptors Nation, just thank you,” Siakam said after a short video montage of early career highlights. “You all embraced me on the first day. Please accept me as your own. […] Knowing that you have supported me since the first day I put on a Raptors uniform is something I will be forever grateful for. ”
After thanking everyone from Canadians to his team members, ‘Spicy P’ talks about how he evolved as a man while growing up in the city and how he establishes his legacy. He talked about what he was able to do.
“That’s always been my mindset as I continue on my journey as a Raptor. I want people to remember my name,” Siakam said. Before jumping into the PS43 Foundation and why he founded it. The foundation aims to honor Siakam’s late father, Chamo Siakam, by creating educational opportunities in mathematics, computer science and technology for Canadian youth.
The Pro Bowler also touched on a time when fans doubted whether the Raptors would make the playoffs or that the team “didn’t get the respect we deserved,” but Siakam said it hurt because he was part of the community. Ta. And he embraced “what being a Raptor is all about.”
“All I wanted to do was go out there and play at the highest level I could ever play and win because I felt this city and country deserved it,” he said. Told.
At the end of the video, Siakam said he “never imagined” playing for any team other than the Toronto Raptors.
“The moment I had to start thinking about it was probably one of the most difficult times, because it was hard to just think of the idea of retirement in my head. That’s not rude. It’s just that… I never thought about it. I never thought about it because I thought I was going to be a Raptor forever,” Siakam concluded.
After reflecting my heart on camera, Siakam published an article in the Players Tribune on Friday.There, he reflected on his six seasons with the team and his love for the city.
Siakam writes about his time with the Raptors
“As a fan, I want to say a few things. First: It’s so much love. Not just the love I feel for them, but the love I’ve shared with them. To see Canadians fall in love with the Raptors while we were there, it’s like it happened at just the right time and in just the right way. When we were really ready and needed it. ” he said in the article.
Siakam was drafted by the Raptors in 2016, but as a late first-round pick, expectations weren’t too high for the power forward.
But he continued to defy expectations, becoming a two-time NBA All-Star and an integral part of the Raptors’ 2019 NBA Championship.
On Thursday after the trade was announced, Raptors president Masai Ujiri told reporters he understands how difficult the rebuild has been for the players and the team, but stressed that changes are necessary as part of a long-term plan. did.
“Yesterday with Pascal. Incredibly difficult,” Ujiri said. “But we’re also excited about the team’s new direction.”
Ujiri said the front office’s main focus was and remains building the team around star Scottie Barnes.
But despite being a now former Raptor, Siakam said in his player obituary that Toronto will always be home.
“None of them [the trade] But what Toronto means to me, and what it continues to mean, changes. That’s the number one thing I wanted to tell everyone, this is home,” he wrote.
“My job may take me other places, but Toronto will always be home. It’s where I came of age as a player and where I found causes I’m passionate about,” Siakam said. Told. “I will forever be grateful for this city and its people.”
Siakam will return to Toronto to play against the Raptors on Valentine’s Day.