Kofi Inkoom
A pair of much-loved former Raptors teammates from the championship era, OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam, are gearing up to face each other for the first time in an upcoming showdown between Anunoby’s Knicks and Siakam’s Pacers, as reported by Zach Braziller of The New York Post.
“Yeah, it’ll be weird,” Anunoby said over the weekend. “I never played against him [Siakam]. He’s always been my teammate, so it’ll be weird, but it’ll be cool, I’m sure. He’s looking forward to it, too.”
Both players have had big impact on their new teams. Since Anunoby joined the Knicks on December 30th, the team has been on fire, winning 24 out of 29 games, including their recent playoff triumph over the 76ers, whenever he’s been on the court.
Anunoby has been putting up impressive numbers, averaging 15.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game in the series, while also showcasing his trademark defensive skills.
Meanwhile, Siakam, who joined the Pacers on January 17th, was outstanding in their series victory against the Bucks, averaging 22.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game.
He quickly became a key player in Indiana’s offense, which ranked first in the league. This marks a new beginning for the ex Raptors’ as they adjust to their new teams.
Even during practice scrimmages back in Toronto, they seldom found themselves matched up against each other since they were usually on the same team.
“I know some stuff,” Anunoby shared. “He’s a great player. I think everyone knows that. … He’s made a big impact. Plays both ends. Can score, he can rebound, he can pass. He can do everything.”
Both players were traded before the deadline, and now these two friends and former teammates will face off with a lot at stake. They led the league with an average of 123.3 points during the regular season and ranked second in offensive rating (120.5).