Brandon Ingram is in his first season with the Toronto Raptors, and his recent conversation with Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson offered a detailed look at how his past and present have shaped his approach to the game.
Now 28, the veteran forward is averaging 21.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists while starting all 49 games he has played for Toronto during the 2025-26 season.
When asked to describe his game through a self-portrait, Ingram pointed to a shot that has defined his career. “The fadeaway. For sure,” Ingram said, citing Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Michael Jordan, Tracy McGrady, and Allen Iverson as influences.
Ingram explained that his commitment to the midrange is rooted in practicality rather than nostalgia. “To win games!” he said, noting that late-game situations often eliminate clean looks at the rim or from three-point range.
At 6-foot-8, Ingram sees the intermediate area as a reliable option when defenses tighten. “You can live and die by the three; those aren’t going to fall every night,” he said. “But you can always go back to your bread and butter.”
The former All-Star also reflected on a mantra tattooed on his body: “The fear of suffering is far worse than suffering itself.” Ingram said the phrase helps him stay balanced through the league’s constant highs and lows.
“It keeps me level-headed because I know it’s never going to be all good, but it’s never going to be all bad, either,” he said.
Looking back at his Los Angeles Lakers tenure from 2016 to 2019, Ingram addressed the 2018 on-court scuffle involving Rajon Rondo and Chris Paul, a moment remembered for the celebrity-filled sidelines. “It was just one of those wild moments,” Ingram said, adding that he did not fully grasp what was unfolding at the time.
He also revisited the 2018-19 Lakers season that was derailed by LeBron James’ groin injury. While cautious about projecting outcomes, Ingram emphasized the group’s talent. “We would have had a chance,” he said, while acknowledging the team’s inexperience.
Ingram spent six seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans before joining Toronto and said he has no regrets about how that core eventually broke apart. Injuries, he explained, prevented the group from building continuity despite its depth and star power.
With the Raptors currently fourth in the Eastern Conference at 30-21, Ingram highlighted his on-court chemistry with Scottie Barnes as a major factor in Toronto’s success. “He just has a great feel for the game on both ends,” Ingram said, praising Barnes’ defense, passing, and leadership.
