MIAMI (AP) — Pascal Siakam and Christian Koloko made history for their native Cameroon. They may compete in more competitions together.
Siakam and Koloko were both in the starting lineup of the Toronto Raptors' 98-90 win over the Miami Heat. It marked the first time in NBA history that two players from Cameroon started playing together. They combined for 25 points and 11 rebounds in the victory.
Siakam
The game marks the 31st time in NBA history that two players from Cameroon have started the same game — but in the first 30 games, they both started on different teams. Most of that was between the Raptors and the Philadelphia 76ers, including Siakam and Joel Embiid.
There have never been three starters from Cameroon in the same match. That could change this week. The Raptors played Philadelphia this week. Embiid, Siakam and Koloko are all Cameroonian-born players.
Koloko, a 2.16m tall rookie, made his first start in the fourth race of his career, replacing the vacated spot by Scotty Barnes - who was sidelined by a sprained ankle. Siakam is his seventh season with the Raptors and his fifth as a full-time starter.
Koloko and Siakam both come from Douala, a city of nearly 6 million people on the Atlantic coast.
Koloko
Koloko made his NBA debut in his hometown last week, which is a big deal in his home country, as evidenced by all the midnight texts he gets from friends and family in Cameroon.
"I remember those times, in that moment, everybody was excited about you," Siakam told Canadian media last week. "Who would have thought we would both be here? This is crazy.
Koloko is the fifth Cameroonian to start in an NBA game, along with Siakam, Embiid, Luc Mba Moute and Ruben Boomje-Boomer.
The Raptors have eight international players on their roster, and this is the second consecutive season Toronto has had eight international players start the season.