Pascal Siakam Joins LeBron James in History Amid NBA Finals

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Jun 14, 2025 9:00 AM ET

The Indiana Pacers’ remarkable run to the NBA Finals has been defined by fast-paced scoring, stingy defense and clutch shooting, as the No. 4–seeded team knocked off the Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers before defeating the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals to earn a spot on basketball’s biggest stage.

Pascal Siakam has been instrumental throughout, providing Indiana with extensive championship experience and veteran leadership. During the 2024-25 regular season, he averaged 20.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game on 51.9 percent shooting from the field across 78 contests.

Through 20 playoff games, Siakam has logged 33.4 minutes per night while averaging 20.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists, along with 1.2 steals and 0.6 blocks per contest.

His consistency has anchored the Pacers’ fast-paced attack as they advanced through each round, reaching the NBA Finals for the first time in 25 years.

In Game 4, Siakam delivered a defensive masterclass—recording four steals in the first quarter—a feat unmatched in any NBA Finals quarter since LeBron James achieved the same in the 2014 Finals.

Pascal Siakam had 4 STL in the first quarter, the most by any player in an #NBAFinals quarter since LeBron James (2014) pic.twitter.com/JujlkB1d43
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 14, 2025

That 2014 series saw James average 28.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals over five games, while shooting 57.1 percent from the floor. Despite his two-way brilliance and one of the greatest Finals performances in history, Miami fell to the Spurs 4–1.

As the series shifts back to Oklahoma City for Game 5, Siakam’s historic quarter stands as a testament to his two-way impact, placing him in elite company and spotlighting his pivotal role in Indiana’s championship quest.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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