Siakam leaned towards turning pro after his sophomore season, but went to the NBA combine still on the fence. Ultimately, he took the plunge, despite having no idea whether he’d even be selected. He was so raw, so untested; NBA teams weren’t quite sure what to make of him. He worked out for more than 20 clubs, but no one gave him a firm indication of interest or let him compete against the draft’s more highly touted prospects. When Siakam worked out with the Raptors he was put in a group with six unrenowned players while Toronto held private sessions with Poeltl and Skal Labissiere at the other end of the gym.

His final workout was in Orlando, where Siakam stayed to watch the draft at a restaurant with his agent and brothers, who all flew in to be with him. Siakam had no idea if he’d be picked until about 30 seconds prior to it happening, when he caught his agent trying to inconspicuously alert his brothers to the impending selection. Then, with the 27th pick, Adam Silver read his name.

Siakam calls it the best night of his life — a step closer to realizing his father’s dream, jumping around the restaurant with his brothers, yelling and crying. Two time zones over in Las Cruces, Menzies and Laird were having their own celebration in New Mexico’s offices. Then, only minutes after the selection, the phone rang. “It’s Pascal,” Laird remembers. “I can hear his brothers screaming and going nuts in the background. And he’s like, ‘I just want to say thank you! I just want to say thank you! Thank you so much! Thank you! I couldn’t have done it without you! I’m gonna call you later! I have to go!’ I don’t think I said a word. But, man, for him to share that moment with us — I’ll never forget that for the rest of my life.”