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'He's a great addition': Pascal Siakam on Raptors 905 hiring his brother

Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam discusses his brother getting hired by the Raptors 905, the Raptors' new scoreboard, assisting on Christian Koloko's first NBA points and more.

Video Transcript

- Where is your focus? You know, because, really, nothing comes for another few weeks. But how do you start approaching these exhibition games?

PASCAL SIAKAM: Just get the pace of the game. I mean, obviously, we played a lot during the summer, or we played a lot here. But it's not the same as a game. So get into the pace of the game, do the things that we want to do as a team, continue to work on that, and just-- just get into, like, just a rhythm in everything.

- Pascal, it wasn't long ago that you were playing in the 905. I feel like-- it was a while ago. But now, your brother is coaching there. What are your thoughts, and how did that come about?

PASCAL SIAKAM: Yeah, I mean, he played basketball his whole life, basically. He's been overseas. He knows the game. He's been around pros, like, since I've been a pro, even before because he played overseas.

So he knows the game. He's been around coaches, like every single year with me, with Rico. Like, he's been there the whole time. So, like, he-- he knows what he's doing.

And I think that he definitely is going to help, like, the 905 in terms of development. Because again, he's seen my development, and he was part of that. So he understands-- he understands everything.

And I think it'll be good for the 905, just continue to grow for him, and then also helping the guys coming through there. Because again, he knows that experience that I've been through. And he was a part of that, just emotionally and physically. So he understands what it takes. And I think that he'll be a great addition.

- Pascal, was he ever-- the two of you ever sit and kind of break down your game, or talk? Or how much did you do that with him--

PASCAL SIAKAM: Yeah.

- --in that coaching vein?

PASCAL SIAKAM: No, I mean-- like I said, he was part of that-- that team with me during the summer. Like, he's-- he's with me every summer, with Rico, and all-- he gave his input on everything that's been going on. And he talks to Rico a lot. And he talks to all the coaches around-- like, that's around me.

So we definitely talk about it. He has an input on everything.

- Is he going to have time to watch you now that he's got his own gig?

PASCAL SIAKAM: I mean, I don't know. He used to go to every game. So I guess maybe not now anymore, right? We're about to probably go watch his game, right?

So it should be-- it should be cool. It should be fun. I think-- I'm happy for him just getting an opportunity. I know it's been a long time coming.

And that's something that he's passionate about. He's in the gym every day with me, you know, no matter what it is. And I think that as coaches, I always say that, like, you need those type of people-- the people that want to live in the gym, you know?

Like, the numbers are cool. But who wants to wake up every single day and be in the gym? Like, those are the coaches that you want.

- What's it been like getting to know Christian for the past few weeks?

PASCAL SIAKAM: Oh, no, he's been good. I think obviously, like, his size and everything-- it's new for him, right? Like, I think the more we're trying to be there for him, or I try to-- just continuing to help him through everything. But I like-- I like what I see.

Like, he's just got to continue to work on getting stronger, and continue to just set screens hard, roll hard, block shots-- like, literally the simplest things, you know? Like, just keep the game simple. And I think as he goes, you know, he's going to continue to grow.

- They're saying-- somebody was saying to me, like, the starters have kind of enjoyed playing with him in scrimmage-type situations because he does keep it pretty simple.

PASCAL SIAKAM: Right, right. Yeah, no, they definitely-- so I think obviously, with us, in that starting lineup, we have so many weapons, you know? But it just changes the dynamic a little bit with somebody else out there.

But-- but no, I think I just want him to continue to just be steady, continue to work, keep his focus. At least for me, that's the most important.

- Was it cool assisting his first bucket the other day?

PASCAL SIAKAM: Oh, that was his first bucket, huh? It was cool, man. It was dope. I think-- like, those are the things that you can't really write, right? You don't know if those things will happen.

I'm sure for him, it was a cool moment. For me, also, like, being from the same hometown, like, that's big, like, you know what I mean? Like, you don't really see that often. And yeah, it's just-- it's good. It's good.

- It seems like you guys have done some renovations to this place with the new--

PASCAL SIAKAM: Renovation?

- --big screen across there.

PASCAL SIAKAM: It's pretty distracting, you know? I'm talking to you guys, but I'm not really talking to you because I'm watching over there. Like, it's really distracting. But it's cool, I guess.

- But what do you do with that data? Have you found that, like, they bombard you with data? And are you accepting of those things?

PASCAL SIAKAM: I try, I try, I try. Whenever-- again, like, I can just only watch the highlights, I feel like. But it's a lot of numbers in there. But no, I think it's good.

Like, obviously, we're coming in here every day. Like, this is our work, you know? And I think it's a way to just give you that message we got every day, just talking to you every day, you know? It's just, like, you can glance up there and see that man, like, I had one deflection last game. Like, maybe I should do better, or whatever the case might be.

So I think that is a different way to just communicate with us without being always, like, oh, oh, oh, you know?

- Thanks very--