THIS IS THE BEST NEWS WE COULD HOPE FOR: Excitement Hits, Indiana Pacers Welcome Professional Baseball Player Pascal Siakam as Assistant
In a stunning move that has left fans bewildered, excited, and mildly confused, the Indiana Pacers announced today that they are officially welcoming professional baseball player Pascal Siakam as an assistant coach for the upcoming NBA season.
Yes, you read that right: baseball player Pascal Siakam. Despite being widely known as a basketball star (and a former NBA champion with the Toronto Raptors), Pacers management insists Siakam’s “raw baseball instincts” and “ability to slide into second base AND the paint” make him the ideal fit for this hybrid role.
“Pascal brings a totally new energy to our locker room,” said Head Coach Rick Carlisle. “He may have never played an inning of MLB baseball, but he watched Moneyball twice last week, and that’s more than most of our staff. We’re thrilled.”
A Shocking Crossover No One Saw Coming
Rumors began circulating early Monday when Siakam was spotted at Victory Field holding a Louisville Slugger and asking if the Pacers had a bullpen.
“I just wanted to try something different,” Siakam reportedly said during the press conference. “I’ve dunked on Giannis, now I want to bunt against gravity.”
Sources close to the organization claim this is part of a bold new strategy called “Double Diamond Development”, where NBA players will begin cross-training with baseball teams in the offseason to improve their hand-eye coordination and snack selection.
Players React
The locker room reaction was… mixed.
- Tyrese Haliburton said, “I mean, I thought it was a joke at first, but then Pascal made us do batting practice before film study. I hit a double, so I’m not mad.”
- Bennedict Mathurin added, “We’ve had some weird team-building ideas before, but this one might top yoga on paddleboards.”
Social Media Melts Down
Within minutes of the announcement, hashtags like #PascalPlaysBall and #ThreePointSwing began trending across X (formerly Twitter). Fans debated whether this crossover would spark a new multi-sport revolution or just make for great meme content.
One post read:
“The Pacers really said ‘swing for the fences’ and meant it. Legendary.”
What’s Next?
While the exact scope of Siakam’s “assistant” duties remains unclear, insiders suggest he may be helping the Pacers develop a new defensive scheme inspired by baseball’s shift, tentatively titled the “Full-Court Outfield.”
Pacers GM Chad Buchanan is staying optimistic:
“We don’t care what sport he played before. He’s got hustle, heart, and a killer change-up… metaphorically speaking.”
