Pascal Siakam hosting and motivating Indiana Pacers teammates for minicamp in Orlando

This is Siakam's first offseason with the Pacers

Mar 16, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) shoots the ball while Brooklyn Nets guard Lonnie Walker IV (8) defends in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images / Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Pascal Siakam is nearing the end of his first full offseason with the Indiana Pacers, and he's flashing his off-court value. The two-time All-Star, who was traded to Indiana back in January, is hosting his teammates for a mini camp in Orlando ahead of the 2024-25 season.

Indiana's head coach Rick Carlisle spoke about the minicamp on 107.5 The Fan Tuesday morning. He said that 18 or 19 players are participating, and the event is being held essentially at Siakam's home. Earlier in the offseason, the two-time All-NBA forward posted a few videos training with younger Pacers players. This time, more of the roster is together.

Last year, the team went to Nashville, Tennessee for a minicamp ahead of the season. They discussed their goals for the campaign and what it would take to get there, and they relied on the veteran leadership of 2023 NBA Champion Bruce Brown to prepare for the coming campaign.

This year, it's Siakam taking on a leadership role — fittingly, a player that Brown was traded for. "The fact that we have more continuity is great. It's a players only retreat in Orlando," Carlisle said. The head coach shared that Siakam has a separate building by his house with a court that can be used for training. "It is a beautiful facility," Carlisle said.

He then detailed that there's a strength training area at the facility and that it could host a real NBA training camp if need be. The players organized this trip on their own — it's a players-only camp, Indiana's coaches are also doing their coaching meetings ahead of the coming campaign.

Siakam took on a leadership role in the postseason for the Pacers last year. He wanted to lead by example. In the past, he won a title and has earned individual accolades. He's been where the rest of the Pacers want to be, and he's powered through low points in his career.

He's also fallen short after tremendous seasons. The Raptors haven't made it back to the conference finals after winning the Finals in 2019. Siakam and his team wanted more, but it never happened. He knows what it takes to get back to high highs, and he's sharing that wisdom with the Pacers.

"We can't go into [the season] thinking 'Oh, we did so well last year. We got to the Eastern Conference Finals, and we're going to be back at it'. It doesn't work like that," Siakam told his teammates, per a video he posted on his Twitter feed. "Have the mindset from the beginning that whatever we did last year, we're going to have to do that sh*t triple to even get to where we were at last year. Just continue to f**king build on that."

Caught a feeling on some @ricohinesbball sh*t pic.twitter.com/KukiMpOx9n

— pascal siakam (@pskills43) September 12, 2024

Siakam noted that the Pacers still have to hunt. They can't be the hunted even after a lengthy playoff run. He doesn't want his team to get comfortable.

Their quest to do what they did last season starts in Orlando. The team was seen together at a WWE event Tuesday night as they continue to bond, an important part of the minicamp experience. They'll eat as a group and learn more about each other — especially the new guys in James Wiseman, Cole Swider, and the 2024 draft class.

Siakam recalled getting somewhat complacent after a title with the Raptors and thinking the team would get back to that high peak at some point. It didn't happen. Now, he's worked hard to be a talented enough player that can help guide a team to postseason series wins. He wants the Pacers to get there again, and if they do, it will have all started at this minicamp in Orlando.

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