After Raptors Media Day, I like to think Brandon Ingram is just as excited as anyone in Toronto to get the ground running with his new team. He’s been out of action for nearly a year (last game played on December 7, 2024), focusing on rehab and getting back into peak shape. We all know how talented Ingram is on offense, especially in isolation and his patented mid-range game.
While long two-pointers have been his signature, and he's comfortable with that style, the Toronto Raptors really need BI to embrace the idea of shooting more threes. It’s not that three-pointers aren’t part of his game, but given what Toronto needs, he must take that next step and focus on catch-and-shoot opportunities. And achieving that shift is definitely within his reach.
NBA analyst Zach Lowe and former Grizzlies executive John Hollinger discussed this topic on the latest episode of The Zach Lowe Show, titled "The Annual Most Confusing Teams Podcast With John Hollinger." As the title indicates, Lowe and Hollinger analyzed how Toronto is among the league's most murky squads, pertaining to issues with their roster, looked into advanced analytics based on their core lineup's sample size, and explored other key storylines emerging from the Raptors.
However, Hollinger also brought up Brandon Ingram’s offensive integration, saying (YouTube link here):
Brandon Ingram must embrace floor spacing growth
"[Scottie] Barnes and [Brandon] Ingram both really want to be on the ball ... I mean, could [Brandon] Ingram, if you can convince him that threes are worth more than twos and he should shoot a few off the catch — I think could be [sic] a more potent floor spacer than he's been in New Orleans. "John Hollinger, Oct 6, 2025
Members of the Raptors organization have already expressed their praise for Brandon Ingram. Players like Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl, and head coach Darko Rajakovic have all spoken highly of him. It’s clear that "The Notorious B.I.3" has quickly bonded with his new team and earned the strong support of his teammates and coaches. But he will need to rely heavily on his outside shooting to help the Raptors expand their hopes for the Ingram experiment. They already know he's a talented scorer, but can BI develop into a serious threat from long range like Hollinger suggests?
Those within the Raptors' ranks will find out soon enough, as will the rest of the eager fanbase.