For what the Raptors signed up for, I'd say the Brandon Ingram investment has relatively paid off and then some. Can we judge BI for his defensive lapses, ability to hang onto the ball, stretches of ineffective offensive nights, or the depth of his true leadership qualities?
Sure, I think those queries are valid.
But then again, I think we will have more of a concrete argument to draw once we see how the Raptors fair in the playoffs, where Ingram will undoubtedly be a focal point of their efforts.
As I said though, I think when you consider that BI has been Toronto's leading scorer (averaging 21.4 points per game on 47.1 percent shooting and 37.8 percent from three) and he squeezed into the All-Star game too, giving Toronto two franchise players in the big event for the first time since 2020. That's a massive win in my book.
The other feel-good development in BI's Raptors tenure to date has been his consistent availability and durability for a majority of the season. Ingram has only missed three total games all year, suiting up in the other 70 affairs (all starting appearances, of course), and that is absolutely a feather in his cap knowing how much questions about BI's health have surrounded him for his entire career.
The Raptors have a key showdown with the Orlando Magic (another young, up-and-coming team in the East) later this evening at home, where Ingram (at the time of writing) is listed as "questionable" with right heel inflammation. However, having dressed in the last two contests for Toronto, I'd say there is a good shot we see BI on the floor later on.
Now, having said that, it brings me to the feat in which Ingram is just a mere hair's length away from achieving for the first time in his NBA career.
Brandon Ingram is on track for his first 1500-point season
Currently, Ingram's total points on the 2025-26 year stands at 1499, which makes him just one point shy from recording 1500 points in a single-season for the first time ever.
In the 2019-20 campaign, which was his breakout All-Star and MIP year, Ingram recorded 1477 total points (his highest tally prior to this year), but just suited up in 62 total games. Ingram is poised to play the most NBA games since his rookie campaign (79 total games played in 2016-17) with Toronto, and as their go-to scorer, he definitely hasn't disappointed as far as the metrics are concerned.
With nine games left on the regular season schedule, hopefully Brandon Ingram can stay active. Getting a couple more 20, 25, or 30+ point performances under his belt to knock this record out of the ball park will set a comfortable new standard for himself going forward, and that could be just the momentum he needs heading into a high-stakes playoff environment.