Spicy P might just be the best story coming out of this Raptors season. We’ve quite literally watched him turn into a star before our eyes. He’s shot up to the top of the Most Improved Player discussion and earned some All-Star buzz when voting time came around. Thankfully, more and more people are realizing the potential that Siakam possesses; some are even arguing he may win an MVP one day.

Beyond this season, Siakam has created optimism throughout the Raptors fan base regardless of Kawhi Leonard’s off season decision. If Kawhi does leave, the Raptors will need someone to step up and fill his spot and Siakam is increasingly looking like he will be that guy. Although there won’t be a full-blown superstar on the team, Siakam (as long as he takes another step) will more than likely be a good enough replacement to keep the team somewhat competitive and interesting. On the other hand, if Kawhi ends up staying, Siakam will turn out to be one of, if not, the best second option in the league making the Raptors poised for continued deep playoff runs.

After DeRozan was traded, I needed to find a new favourite Raptor and Siakam quickly earned that status. Here’s why:

He’s A Bit of An Underdog Story

Siakam actually didn’t start playing the game of basketball in a competitive manner until he was nearly 18 years old. When he was 11, his father enrolled him in a school to teach him to be a priest. A dream he didn’t share. On a day in 2011, Siakam joined some friends to attend a free basketball camp hosted by NBA player Luc Mbah a Moute. The main reason for his entry was the basketball reputation his family carried (all three of his brothers had scholarships for basketball in America). After returning to the camp for a second year, Siakam was invited to appear at the Basketball Without Borders camp where Raptors GM, Masai Ujiri, got his first look at him.

Eventually, Siakam joined his brothers when he attained a scholarship to play for New Mexico State. He was there for three years but played just two years (redshirted his first season) and won both Western Atlantic Conference Sophomore of the Year and Western Atlantic Player of the Year. Because of that he rose the ranks and fell into the first round of the 2016 NBA draft being picked 27thoverall by the Raptors. As you can see from this draft review, this wasn’t the most loved pick: