Building on my recent piece highlighting NBA analyst Zach Lowe's podcast comments — if Scottie Barnes has been the Raptors' "driver," then Brandon Ingram has been the "glue" reinforcing the foundations together.
To be fair, Barnes deserves a lot of credit too on that front also, especially for his defensive focus and elevating that aspect of his game to early All-Defensive levels. But in the context of "glue" here, I think there are more layers to Mr. "Notorious B.I.3" than initially meet the eye.
Of course, Ingram joined this team as a widely regarded near All-Star level talent who had yet to find his footing as a leader. There were many questions about how he would fit into this new role and team, and I shared some of those concerns. He was good, but just how good could Ingram be when it mattered most? I always believed BI could be the prolific scorer he's proven to be, even if his time as the primary option with the Pelicans didn’t fully realize the potential it seemed to hold when he first arrived as part of the blockbuster Anthony Davis trade.
But these days with the Raps are different. Ingram is 28 years old now, and while he's certainly still thrust in the midst of his NBA prime, he's not exactly the young wing who people were keeping an eye on after his 2020 All-Star and Most Improved Player campaign. We know exactly what BI is, while still acknowledging his ability to tap into another gear.
Toronto has needed a player to stabilize their core for some time. With Brandon Ingram, the Raptors have a proven veteran who can consistently score at will. Opposing defenses will largely focus on him, giving BI the freedom to set up his teammates without bearing the full weight of closing out the show. The Raptors' late-game win against Charlotte on November 17 highlights this flexibility, as Ingram found his co-star RJ Barrett for an easy basket in crunch time.
Brandon Ingram connects the Raptors' rising roster seamlessly
I also believe this is Brandon Ingram’s strongest supporting cast to date in his NBA career. While he’s played alongside talented cast mates in New Orleans like Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy, and Herb Jones, this group offers a more balanced and cohesive environment. And to that point, a defensive identity is emerging in Toronto that Ingram hasn't often had the chance to be part of before.
Ingram is sacrificing individual statistics by embracing the unselfish and well-rounded Raptors mindset. He’s arguably playing the best defense of his career, as shown in the win over Charlotte, and appears willing to accept any role the Raptors assign him. I also appreciate Brandon Ingram’s fit alongside the emerging Raptors reserves, with promising chemistry shown with Jamal Shead, Collin Murray-Boyles, Gradey Dick, and Sandro Mamukelashvili.
Simply put, Brandon Ingram acts as the key link among all the moving parts.