The Raptor’s New Ace : Brandon Ingram

The Raptor’s New Ace : Brandon Ingram

What if I told you that Brandon Ingram might finally be stepping into the role he was born to play in? We’ve all seen glimpses of Ingram’s incredible talent over the years. The silky mid-range pull-ups, the effortless drives, the flashes of brilliant playmaking. But for nearly a decade, it’s felt like he’s been stuck between identities. Sometimes a scorer, sometimes a facilitator, sometimes both, but never fully unleashed as the primary offensive weapon. When he played next to LeBron James, he had to fit into a system and adapt. And while that partnership ended abruptly because of his blood clot scare, those last few games showed something fascinating. In that short stretch, Ingram averaged 27 points and seven rebounds while LeBron put up his usual absurd numbers, 28 points, nine rebounds, and 11 assists. The most surprising part, Ingram’s assists dropped to just two per game because playing next to a ball dominant star meant he had to shift gears and focus more on scoring. And he did it extremely well. This brings me to the big question. What happens when Ingram arrives in Toronto? Obviously, Scotty Barnes is no LeBron James. Not even close right now. But there’s a parallel here. In the NBA, so many players have way more skills than they get to show. A lot of guys could probably score more, but they play next to high volume shooters. Many could be primary ball handlers, but they have to defer to superstars. They sacrifice parts of their game to fit the system. I remember Ingram once saying he might actually enjoy playmaking even more than scoring. I know that might sound crazy to some, but if you’ve watched enough Brandon Ingram, you know how much he loves creating for others. But in Toronto, he might have to sacrifice that part of his game, changing his role. No, he’s not suddenly going to average two assists per game. I’d be shocked if he dips below four for the rest of his prime, but it might look more like that LeBron era version of Ingram. More deep seals, more quick cuts, more transition finishes. Instead of playing as a point forward, Toronto might transform him into a full-time elite scorer. And honestly, that’s both surprising and exciting. I always pictured Ingram going somewhere to be a third option, maybe behind Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxi and Philly or sliding in as a compliment to De’Aran Fox and Dantis Sabonis in Sacramento. a plug-and-play piece, not necessarily the featured scorer. But Toronto seems to have a different plan. They want Ingram to lead them in scoring. They want him to take that offensive load and run with it. And you know what? It might be the best thing for him. What makes Ingram special? Sometimes a player is so gifted and has so many options that it almost hurts them. Brandon Ingram often surveys the floor looking to make the right play when in reality all he needs is one dribble and he’s at the rim. He can just rise up and shoot over defenders with that 7′ 3 in wingspan and 40in vertical. The game could be so easy for him as a scorer if he just simplified things. I know I’m getting myself hyped again and we’re going into year 10 for Ingram. It’s wild. Time flies. But there’s reason to believe it could finally click this time. A new system, a new opportunity. Under Willie Green, things often look clunky. The offense didn’t seem designed to get Ingram easy looks. And maybe Brandon Ingram even liked it that way. Maybe he enjoyed those tough fadeaways because he’s so good at them. But sometimes a fresh environment can unlock a player in ways we can’t predict. running the floor harder, cutting more, getting easier buckets in transition instead of stopping at half court to orchestrate. Toronto might finally put him in those positions consistently, get him the ball one dribble away from the rim instead of making him create from the top every time. Here’s a stat I always mention. Over the past 3 years, Ingram has a higher field goal percentage at the rim than Aaron Gordon, Zion Williamson, and Jonathan Kaminga. Yet, he doesn’t get nearly as many opportunities there. That’s on the system. The untapped potential of Ingram. Last season, not counting this injury shorten year, only 2% of Ingram’s shots came off cuts. That’s a point guard stat, not a forwards. Other wings like D Rozan and Devin Booker also operate a lot on the ball, but Brandon Ingram is physically more imposing than those guys. He has the tools to be dominant at the rim, but he hasn’t used them enough. When we think of Ingram, we think mid-range fadeaway, and they’re beautiful. Don’t get me wrong, that shouldn’t go away. But he can add more. He can be a force cutting to the rim. He can be a lob threat with that wingspan and vertical. He should be getting three or four easy buckets a night, just off cuts and movement. Toronto might be the place to unlock that side of him. Three-point shooting, the next frontier. Another piece to watch, his three-point shooting. We’ve been begging Ingram to take more threes for years. Finally, he did, but not in the way we expected. Instead of just taking more open catch and shoot looks, he started pulling up more off the dribble, adding a new dimension to his game. Next year, I want to see both. More decisive catch and shoot threes and more confident pull-ups. A career year incoming. I’ll say it cautiously. I think Ingram could average a careerhigh in points next season. He’s been so close to that 25 points per game mark, and Toronto might finally push him over the edge. Maybe the assists dip from around 5.6 to closer to 4.6. six. But that’s okay if it means he’s putting more pressure on defenses as a scorer. Of course, there are a lot of wild cards. What if Emanuel Quickley has a breakout year? What if Barnes takes another leap and commands more touches? But still, I think the plan is clear. Toronto wants Ingram to be the go-to score. When we take a step back and look at the big picture, this isn’t just about Brandon Ingram putting up a few more points per game. It’s about redefining who he is and what Toronto can become because of it. For years, Ingram has been caught between roles. One foot in as a playmaker, one foot in as a scorer. He’s been the ultimate could do everything guy. But sometimes that flexibility has been more of a curse than a blessing. We’ve seen players across the NBA face this exact same identity crisis. Think about Paul George when he moved from Indiana to OKC or even Andrew Wiggins before he landed in Golden State. They were always talented enough to do everything. But greatness often requires simplicity and focus. Toronto sees that. They’re betting that by simplifying Ingram’s responsibilities by telling him, “Go score. We’ll handle the rest.” They’ll finally unlock the killer instinct that’s always been lurking under the surface. Imagine a version of Ingram that doesn’t hesitate, that doesn’t overthink every dribble or pass. A version that embraces his physical gifts, the 7′ 3 in wingspan, the smooth handle, the quick first step. A version that goes into every game knowing he’s the number one option, knowing he doesn’t have to worry about orchestrating for others, just getting buckets. Some will doubt this experiment. They’ll say Ingram can’t lead a team. They’ll say his playmaking is too important to sacrifice. They’ll question whether he can handle being the guy in crunch time. But if there’s one thing we’ve learned from the NBA time and time again is that sometimes a change of scenery and a new role are exactly what a star needs to ignite. This is Toronto betting on themselves, on their culture, on their player development system, on a vision that isn’t just about big names, but about big potential finally realized. Imagine a Raptors playoff series 2 years from now. Ingram is torching defenses for 30 a night. Barnes is filling up the stat sheet everywhere. Quickly is knocking down huge shots. Barrett is slashing and finishing strong. The crowd in Scotia Bank Arena is electric. This isn’t just wishful thinking. This is the ceiling Toronto is betting on. So yes, we’re talking about unlocking Ingram in year 10. But maybe, just maybe, this is finally the moment where he stops being an almost and fully steps into the spotlight as a dominant force. I might be wrong, but I believe this is Toronto’s plan. Let Ingram lead them in scoring. Let Barnes evolve into an all-around star. And watch as the Raptors quietly transform into one of the most dangerous teams in the East. Is this the year Ingram finally breaks through? Will Ingram finally hit that next level? Can he become a true top option in Toronto? Can Toronto truly build around this new identity? Or will we be having this same conversation next year?

Brandon Ingram is officially a Toronto Raptor. In this video, we break down why this move is massive for the franchise. We look at what Ingram brings on offense, how he fits alongside Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles, and why the Raptors just became one of the most exciting teams in the East.

#BrandonIngram #TorontoRaptors #NBA #IngramToRaptors #RaptorsBasketball #NBA2026 #ScottieBarnes #CollinMurrayBoyles #RaptorsRebuild