Raptors’ Brandon Ingram: “We’re making the playoffs, for sure”

Raptors’ Brandon Ingram: “We’re making the playoffs, for sure”

you know, the uh in the How does it feel to be I guess 100% being able to really train and go on? Uh feel good. Uh it’s been a long rehab process, a long day. So to get out here and play five on five a little bit and be able to gel with the guys, it’s been fun. How how long how recently were you cleared? um just um just yesterday actually um getting here in Vegas and um they seen me a little bit. I had um some of the training staff with me while I was away in the offseason, but getting here seeing how I was how I was feeling, they kind of cleared me when I got the notice. And do you feel like you feel rusty or do you kind of are you optimistic? You feel like, you know what, it’s going to come back pretty quick and I feel good. Uh my body feel good, you know, my movement feel good. So, I’m I’m ready to continue to build. Um, I don’t feel rested. I’m, you know, well conditioned. I can be better conditioned, but I’m in a good spot, especially for things for July. What What does the rest of the summer look like for you now that you have been? Um, you know, just playing more five on five. It’s been a long time since I’ve played five on five since December. So, just trying to get my timing down, my rhythm, my rhythm back, and uh just getting better, doing some more explosive moves, the ones that I haven’t done in a long time, and just continue building. Is this the long Sorry, go ahead. What did you miss? Uh the camaraderie uh with the team, um the competitiveness going against other players, and um you know, just continuing to learn. I think uh when this ankle injury I I haven’t been able to have any physical contact, do nothing on the basketball floor, but just hear how Darko coaches hear how his assistance move and uh just learn. But to be on the floor and uh actually do the things that he’s asked me to do is much better. How much different was the recovery process than what you envisioned for a sprained ankle? Uh it was way different, you know. Well, I never experienced that. Um, especially from ankle injury, it always took about 3 weeks, two two or 3 weeks. So, you know, it was a little bit different. Um, it was way more slow than usual. And, um, sometimes I didn’t u know when when it was going to be when I was going to be healthy. So, um, I just continue to go through the process um, and feel better each and every week. uh good communication from the training staff and the coaches and everybody. They helped me out a lot through this process and uh you know I’m finally here. You had a chance to watch this team over the second half of last season. How close do you feel like they are like you guys are to taking that next step competing for a playoff spot and how much do you think you’re going to be able to help getting them to that level? Yeah, I mean um I think we’re I think we We’re making the playoffs for sure. I think we try to build championship habits. I think what I saw in the in the second half of the season is they play hard. They play really really hard on the offense and defensive end. Um on the offensive end, I always use the word swag. Um some looseness and I I saw that from the point guard quick. I always tell him that just to play with swag. So I think just having that on the floor, knowing who we are on the basketball floor and finding ident identity on the offense, man. They already found their identity on the defense, man. And you know, I can’t come in and mess that up. I got to be playing as harder than them, but just finding identity on the offensive end and seeing what’s the best offense. I know you did two more. I know you got a chance to watch some of the young guys uh over the course of last season, but last night your impression on how they played and kind of what you think of them. Uh it was to my expectation. You know, the summer league, the summer league, I expected some I expected AJ Lawson to play like that. I expected Jamal to pick up full court and agitate players. Um so, you know, they done it in the league. So, for them to come out and beat teams by 40s, it’s 20s and 40s. um the expectation at this point. At this point, it’s been a while since a lot of people are fans have seen you play. Uh what are you most eager to show them or just show yourself? Um I don’t think um I don’t I know people know my game a little bit, but I think I get a chance to, you know, show a little bit more. uh being the the focal point of the offense. I think I get to show my my playmaking skills and moving without the basketball and scoring without the basketball in my hand. I get to show them that I I’ve been a three-point shooter most of my life. Um just all aspects of the game. I get to show just how much of a competitor I am and want to be. Thank you for

Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram speaks at Las Vegas Summer League about his expectations for the Raptors to return to the playoffs next season, his recovery from an ankle injury, and also what he wants to show in his game this year.