Different fans have different preferences, but there's no denying that to succeed in the NBA, you need to have capable perimeter shooters in your lineup. The Raptors, however, are one of those teams to defy that conventional wisdom, having built a relatively 'non-shooting' core.
They have players who can knock down threes (or at least try to), but Toronto clearly prefers to hunt for twos over threes. And when they do attempt the three-ball, fans have noticed that even on wide-open looks, the Raptors often just can't hit their shots. With the roster’s shooting responsibilities so concentrated, most of that pressure falls on lead guard Immanuel Quickley, who has been their most reliable and willing three-point shooter all year.
IQ once again leads the Raptors in three-point attempts at 7.0 per game, keeping his hold on that category from last season when he averaged 6.8. He’s knocking down shots at a 37.5 percent clip from deep this season. But with Quickley being a streaky shooter, fans know to brace for the occasional shooting drought, even as he remains a key X-factor (or even the second-most important player) heading into the playoffs.
Over the 2025-26 campaign, IQ has had some hot stretches, though in the recent five-game stretch he’s been far from his usual self. He’s shooting just 31.3 percent from three on 6.4 attempts per game (making only 2.0 per contest) and has had two games where he struggled at 1-for-6.
Meanwhile, Raptors All-Star Brandon Ingram appears to be picking up steam in the area where IQ has hit a rough patch, adding an intriguing subplot to this battle of shooters (if you wanna call it that).
Brandon Ingram is surpassing Immanuel Quickley in three-point category
The last two games have been especially hot for Brandon Ingram, with back-to-back 30-plus point performances that helped secure crucial victories over the Phoenix Suns and Detroit Pistons. Those impressive outings are even more impactful when you consider his shooting from beyond the arc, where he went 5-for-6 against Phoenix and 4-for-9 against Detroit.
Over the same five-game sample I used for Immanuel Quickley, Ingram is averaging 5.8 three-point attempts per game (up slightly from his season average of 4.9) and he's been highly efficient, knocking down shots at a 41.4 percent clip.
The two games prior hinted at a concerning trend, as Ingram struggled — going 2-for-7 against his former Pelicans team, 1-for-5 against the Rockets, and 0-for-2 against the Mavericks. However, it’s encouraging to see him re-engaging with this part of his game, which has long been a suggested focus for improvement.
Developing his scoring versatility outside of the usual heavy isolation and mid-range plays could be a key step forward. Ingram’s willingness to take on this challenge comes at a crucial time, especially with a teammate who can shoot the three struggling to find consistency.
I’m not necessarily calling for Ingram to strictly be a volume three-point gunner, but a few more 30-plus point nights with efficient scoring inside and beyond the arc would be a welcome sight for the Raptors as playoff time approaches. Opponents are already aware that shutting down Ingram’s usual spots will be a top priority, but if he can shift around to the right areas (finding open threes or even pulling contested ones when he's feeling confident) — it could give the Raptors a crucial edge just as the game heats up.