PASCAL Siakam

Siakam averaged 24.0 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists over 62 games last season, playing 33.2 minutes a night for Indiana. He shot 48.4% from the field, 35.8% from three and 69.3% from the free-throw line, good for a 56.2 true shooting percentage. His usage rate sat at 29.2%, a sign of how much the offense ran through him. He also chipped in 1.1 steals and 0.4 blocks while committing 2.2 turnovers per game. The one number that stands out is his minus-3.7 plus-minus, meaning Indiana was outscored with Siakam on the floor across last season's sample.

Indiana opened its season with a win over Minnesota on October 7, with Siakam scoring 10 points in 19.4 minutes. Since then, the Pacers have lost three straight: 13 points against Atlanta on October 10, 6 points against Oklahoma City on October 13, and 24 points against Milwaukee on October 16. His minutes have been limited in those games, topping out at 22.4 against Atlanta and dropping to 20.9 against Milwaukee. The Milwaukee loss came despite his 24-point output, and his plus-minus in that game was a positive 23.0 even though Indiana still lost.

Siakam is not on the injury report. There is no injury history listed for him entering this season. That clean bill of health matters for a 32-year-old forward who played 62 games and logged heavy minutes last season. Staying off the injury list early in 2026-27 gives Indiana's coaching staff one less variable to manage as they sort out rotations and try to find a consistent identity through the first stretch of games. For a team that has dropped three of its first four, having its top forward available every night is one of the few things working in its favor right now.

The early-season split is clear: a win when Siakam played limited minutes against Minnesota, then three losses in a row, including a 24-point effort against Milwaukee that still ended in defeat. Last season's full-year averages, 24.0 points on 48.4% shooting with a 29.2% usage rate, show what Siakam looks like at his baseline. The question through these first four games is whether Indiana can turn his scoring into wins rather than losses with him on the floor. With no injury concerns and a workload that should scale up as the season settles, Siakam's role as Indiana's top offensive option is not in question.