Pascal Siakam Mailbag #2 + For Paid Subscribers: Diego Pavia Podcast Interview Opens up a LOT of Eyes and Makes Me Put It All in Perspective

What will Pascal's Legacy Be After This is All Done? Fan Backlash Regarding Lack of Donations to NM State + Diego Pavia Makes Some Bold Statements about Late 2023 NM State Football

Hello All!

Back after a mini vacation. I had my niece and nephew and needless to say, I love summer because I get a little break from the sports writing grind and I get to enjoy the little ones growing up before my very eyes.

Not a lot of Aggies news at all. No signings. No transfers. No hirings/firings. Whole lot of silence in Las Cruces at the moment. Soon we will get a basketball schedule and in 2.5 months we will be kicking off soccer and football again.

I will start to have subscriber-only columns leading up to the start of the football season, and as I did last year, every week is a big-game feel. Columns throughout the week all week for the biggest sport.

Reminder this is a reader-supported publication, and this column has half of it behind a paywall today. So stay for the Pascal Mailbag and Hang out for the Commentary about NM State Football as told by former NM State QB Diego Pavia on one of the biggest stages in the country today.

$5 a month or about a dime a day for annual.

Subscribe today to The People’s Champion: AGGREGATOR

Plus, I do have a consumer-tinged column called “Consumer Beast” where I talk more like myself about all things in the corporate/business/customer service world.

I had a column a couple days ago about performative empathy in the fast-food world that has become one of my biggest columns I have ever written. Reader discretion advised, but I promise you it is a good story. Check out CONSUMER BEAST HERE!

One Double Cheeseburger, an Order of Cheese Curds and a side of Unresolved Relationship With My Father and Mother, Please!

Some of you might not agree with my commentaries, but that’s totally cool. I encourage you to read independent writing anywhere you can find it, because there’s not a lot of us local writers that are any good :)

So… Pascal Siakam and the Pacers lost 120-109 last night to the Thunder in Game 5 of the NBA Finals to go down 3-2 in the series. OKC can win the title on Thursday in Indiana unless the Pacers force a game 7 on Sunday in OKC.

Naturally, the whole local media landscape is milking Pascal coverage for eyeballs, myself included. You would be amazed how many views the last one got compared to what I normally get. That’s because millions of people are consuming everything NBA Finals, and in a game like the one played last night where Pascal Siakam had 12 points in the first four minutes of the 4th quarter to cover for a severly hurt Halliburton.

Pascal’s legend, which began in Cameroon, crafted here in Las Cruces, bloomed in Toronto and now spreading in Indy is the stuff that writers love, because even half-bad columns will get eyeballs.

So I decided to answer some Pascal related mailbag questions today again, as it is the focus on the Aggies Fans mind at the moment!

Of course, you can always email me at thenotoriousbanker@gmail.com or DM me on social media as long as you don’t threaten me :)

So here’s the Pascal Mailbag!

First one is about legacy:

James, thank you for being different in a world of people who write similarly.

.,My question is, what do you think Pascal’s legacy will be after this series? The Hall of Fame is a long way away, but can we come out of this series thinking of him in another way than we did when he came in?

It’s funny. I got this message at about 8pm local time on Friday, mere minutes from Indiana potentially winning Game 4 to take a 3-1 lead against one of the better regular season teams in history.

45 minutes later, I don’t think I get sent that message. Because Indiana lost the lead and it was 2-2, and now it is 3-2 OKC

Sometimes a few minutes can swing the series.

But let me answer the second part first. He will be in the HOF one day. It’s funny, the only sports podcast I really listen to is Bill Simmons (with occasionally Ryen Russillo) mainly because since I am a content creator, and try to be good at it, I can’t stand hearing other people talk (It’s true). Bill Simmons asked if Pascal is a HOF’er to Ryen Russillo on Sunday night, the first time I ever heard a legitimate sports talking head mention it.

Russillo was non committal, but Simmons points out that he might end up with 20,000 points in his career, which is a typically milestone that leads to the Hall of Fame according to him, as there are people who made it solely off the points.

Me? I always said he would as a contributor to the game from Africa who has helped with his presence grow the game simply by showing up to play every day. If he wins a second title, cool. Even better, but I think he will make it one day.

As for legacy? Well, let me be honest here. It depends. Siakam is already the best player in this Finals for Indiana. If OKC wins the title, Gilgeous-Alexander or Jalen Williams will be MVP. If Indiana wins, there is no way in hell anyone other than Siakam wins MVP.

Here’s his 2025 Finals Stats so far and what spot is he on his own team in that stat:
Pascal Siakam – 2025 Finals (5 games)

PTS: 20.6 (1st)
REB: 7.4 (1st)
AST: 4.2 (2nd)
MIN: 33.0 (3rd)
FGM: 6.6 (1st)
FGA: 14.0 (1st)
FG%: 47.1% (4th)
3PM: 1.4 (T-4th)
3PA: 4.0 (5th)
3P%: 35.0% (5th)
FTM: 6.0 (1st)
FTA: 7.4 (1st)
FT%: 81.1% (4th)
OREB: 2.0 (T-1st)
DREB: 5.4 (2nd)
TOV: 2.0 (T-3rd)
STL: 2.0 (1st)
BLK: 1.4 (1st)

He’s everything to this team at the moment, and star player Tyrese Halliburton is dealing with a strained calf that might keep him out of Game 6 if it is severe enough. I do think he would sit out that game if it is bad enough, because a bad calf leads to other injuries for overcompensating.

If Tyrese doesn’t play, the Finals will be won or lost based on Siakam’s play. Simple as that.

If he wins Games 6 and 7 by putting the Pacers on his back and has one of those well-rounded games, he will be lauded as the only reason the Pacers win the title. I really believe that. It will up him on the all-time conversation, not because he won a second ring, a thousand people have 2 rings, but because he won one as a second banana… a young banana, and now as a 31 year old veteran, he stepped up in a way that was above and beyond when the star went down.

Heck, even if they lose Thursday or win Thursday and lose Sunday, Siakam’s stock as a great player and his legacy will grow because he is getting a ton of airtime for how he plays, and he is getting a ton of appreciation that he didn’t get in Toronto.

You got to keep in mind Siakam likely only landed the big contract with the Raptors because Kawhi Leonard left. Siakam was paid to be the centerpiece and of course that changed over 6 years and that is why he is a Pacer now.

But Indiana knew the quality and quantity of what he brought and so far in two years, he has made 2 conference finals, and one NBA finals, and is at worst, two wins from a title.

So his legacy will be much improved no matter win or lose this series, as he is the most consistent player on their team now. If they win it, especially with no Halliburton, then holy cow, It’s another level for Pascal.

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Next email is a Negative Nellie… Unlike certain reporters up north, I don’t belittle the people who disagree with me. But I will point out why they are wrong. :)

James, Why do we care about someone who is NOT representing NM State every chance he gets? We would have a bigger profile if our best player hyped us up in interviews more often. Plus, he doesn’t even give to the school, so why do we praise love on a cheapskate?

Last part first.

One of the quibbles I have with NIL advertising at a lot of schools is the implication that if I don’t give, that somehow I am not a big enough fan. I hate salespeople like that. It’s lazy and the call to action is offensive.

I got hit up by a homeless person at the grocery store today for “spare change.” I told her I didn’t have any, which was true, I only have my cell phone to do Apple Pay. But she gave me a look like I am a terrible person for saying no.

Little does she know I have given over 5000 lbs of food in the last few years to food pantries all across this city, much of it out of my own pocket, and because I don’t like to deal with the big pantry in town, I don’t get the tax receipt for it either.

So not giving to her doesn’t mean I don’t already give in so many other ways. Fandom doesn’t cost you anything. It doesn’t cost you money to walk around Walmart and look.

But what I don’t like is to say, “I gave so you need to give too.”

That’s not real life. Everyone should make decisions based on their needs and feelings. So if someone leaves their estate to the University as a thank you for their education, then cool. If they don’t spend one second mentioning it, then that’s cool too.

But working in a bank, the lamest thing you can do is tell people what to do with their money. Pascal may make over $500 million when it is all said and done. Any monetary gift he would want to give should not be compelled by fans saying he should just because he made money.

Because if I graduated from school at ENMU like I did, and currently make lower middle class money like I do, is there an amount that you have in your head about the disposable income that you don’t even know I may or may not have that you think I should give.

And what’s the reasoning? I took mostly online classes and had no relationships with Portales and Roswell over the years really. The people I was friends with there I can’t stand now, and I never attended a football or basketball game while going to school there. True Story.

So… what?

I have said before, yes, reach out to Pascal…However, I have met far too many terrible salespeople in my day to know that you have to nurture this relationship back to a certain level before you have your hand out. If you make his getting reintroduced to NM State feel like a timeshare trap, it won’t go over well.

A lot of folks have the wrong idea about wealthy people. You hire people to help you with your money and your time to maximize both because it’s about sustaining a quality of life beyond your playing days.

If he gave $0, I still think the level of fandom for him would not wilt in this area at all. So don’t expect anything from anyone, otherwise its an easy way to be disappointed.

If money = love then we have taught our kids wrong. Pascal represents NM State in a high level regardless of what check is being sent or not to this school.

As for why we talk about them, emailer…. Umm, because I get 20x the eyeballs answering your question. If talking about the Jolly Green Giant got me 20,000 views, I am sure I would find an Aggie twist on it.

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Ok.. Enough Pascal mailbag. I will have a final one when the series is over.

Now, for paid subscribers, you will have a commentary about Diego Pavia.
(Waiting for the free subscribers to email me about how they don’t want to hear about ex-Aggies anymore, because they are traitors, Judas, Benedict Aggie, etc.)

You done?

Ok. Let me finish

I think you would be REALLY interested in my thoughts on Diego Pavia after a very interesting interview with the Bussin’ With The Boys Podcast which is hosted by former NFL Players Will Compton and Taylor Lewan

Now, I admit. I don’t have time or the energy to listen to every podcast. That’s just not how I roll. I do listen to podcasts, but I like listening to interview podcasts and not just sports takes. Although I was pleasantly surprised by today’s episode I will be talking about here, I may give them a second shot soon.

But today, former NM State QB Diego Pavia entered the studio and needless to say, there were some newsmaking comments on there, although many in the Twitter-verse preferred to talk about him talking about the UNM Urination incident, which he did not apologize for and if anything, used it as a way to show how “hard” he is… Hard being the way young kids talk about toughness.

The funniest thing about people in my world focusing on that incident and not the other things in the over one hour podcast said a lot to me before I listened to it, and when I did watch and listen (as you have to watch the video for added context,) I began to understood that the post-2023 NM State outlook was untenable because of how the pieces fell post NM Bowl.

There were some bold claims in it, which sources tell AGGREGATOR, can be confirmed.

To some at NM State, and I know this from my inbox, this will not be an endearing conversation that he had and shame on everyone for talking about it. For others, myself included, it was a glimpse on how someone “from here” (meaning NM) can still be himself, have zero cares in the world, but full-on self awareness, and find himself thriving in no other way he could have in 2024 at NM State.

It’s over an hour long, so if you want to watch it, by all means do so and come back for my commentary below.

Baca: Diego Pavia Offered $4 Million to Play Elsewhere in 2025, Claims He Would Have Remained at NM State Under Certain Conditions. How His Matter of Fact “NM Style” of Keeping It Real Details What 2024 Could Have Been Like at NM State

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