# Pascal Siakam ranked 8th? That's disrespectful

> A new ranking puts the Pacers star behind seven other power forwards, but his playoff resume tells a different story.
- Title: Pascal Siakam ranked 8th? That's disrespectful | Shortify
- Summary: A new ranking puts the Pacers star behind seven other power forwards, but his playoff resume tells a different story. When building a team to win playoff…
- Keywords: pascal siakam, indiana pacers, hoopshype, nba rankings, power forwards, giannis antetokounmpo, zion williamson, paolo banchero, jalen johnson, evan mobley, lebron james, scottie barnes
- Source: Indiana Pacers On SI — https://si.com/nba/pacers/onsi/latest-nba-ranking-seriously-disrespects-pacers-star-pascal-siakam-01m2k474wrx1
- Published: 2026-09-15T20:00:02+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: pascal siakam, indiana pacers, hoopshype, nba rankings, power forwards, giannis antetokounmpo, zion williamson, paolo banchero, jalen johnson, evan mobley, lebron james, scottie barnes
## Siakam ranked eighth among power forwards
HoopsHype's latest ranking puts Pascal Siakam behind Giannis, Jalen Johnson, Scottie Barnes, Evan Mobley, LeBron, Paolo Banchero and Zion Williamson.
## The real question is playoff value
Rankings based on talent or upside are one thing. But if you're trying to win a playoff series tomorrow, only Giannis has a clear edge over Siakam.

> If you're trying to win a playoff series tomorrow, how many power forwards would you actually take over Siakam.
## Zion's durability is a problem
Williamson's talent is undeniable, but availability matters. Siakam has proven he can withstand the grind while New Orleans has accomplished little with Zion as its centerpiece.
## Siakam's teams actually win
He won a championship in Toronto and became critical to Indiana's transformation into a contender. He impacts winning at the highest level.
## Banchero doesn't play both ends
Paolo is immensely talented offensively, but Siakam can score at all three levels while defending multiple positions throughout playoff runs.
## Jalen Johnson hasn't proven it yet
Johnson's regular season production is impressive, but he hasn't shown he can change a postseason series. Siakam has done it repeatedly.

> If Johnson is your best player today, how high is your team's ceiling?
## LeBron isn't the same player anymore
At 41, James isn't the player he was even five years ago. Siakam is younger, in his prime, and capable of carrying a massive workload on both ends.
## Mobley is elite defensively but limited
He's a Defensive Player of the Year winner, but offensively you want more. Cleveland's offense doesn't feature him enough in stretches.
## Siakam would make Cleveland more dangerous
Swap Siakam onto the Cavaliers roster and they become more dangerous in playoff series because of his shot creation and postseason experience.
## Scottie Barnes has the edge overall
Barnes became Toronto's franchise player after Siakam left and possesses tremendous versatility. He can play anywhere from point guard to center.
## But Barnes lacks playoff success
There's still something Barnes doesn't have that Siakam does: a lengthy resume of postseason success and championship experience.
## We're obsessed with what's next
Rankings constantly chase who's younger, who has bigger upside, who produces flashier numbers. Sometimes we overlook the player who has already proven it.
## Siakam checks every box
He's a champion, three-level scorer, versatile defender, durable, in his prime, and willing to take difficult assignments while carrying offensive burden.

> Most importantly, his game translates when the playoffs arrive.
## Indiana needed him for their run
The Pacers don't come close to an NBA championship without Siakam. He was their most consistent player while defending positions three through five.
## Playoff success requires more than talent
When trying to win playoff series, experience, versatility, durability, toughness and championship mentality matter just as much as raw production.
## Eighth place is just disrespectful
Calling Pascal Siakam the eighth-best power forward in basketball feels less like a ranking and more like another example of how underrated he's become.
## Key takeaway

When building a team to win playoff series right now, Pascal Siakam's proven two-way versatility and championship experience make him the second-best power forward in the NBA.