Brandon Ingram excited to join 'goofy' Raptors, signs contract extension in Toronto with goal of becoming an 'all-star again'

Yahoo

13-02-2025

TORONTO — Brandon Ingram has officially inked a three-year, $120 million extension to be part of the 'goofy' Raptors, while playing in a city he's long admired as he looks for a 'fresh start.'
On Wednesday, general manager Bobby Webster announced the news at a press conference alongside Ingram, a development that comes after the Raptors acquired him shortly before the NBA's Feb. 6 trade deadline. It was a calculated decision, knowing that Ingram was set to become a free agent at the end of this year. Now, he'll be part of the Raptors' longer-term plans, playing in one of his favourite cities.
'At the beginning of the year, every time the schedule comes out … the first team we mark is Toronto. I don't think it's ever for the team. It's always for the city,' said Ingram, later adding that he especially likes the 'culture, food ... different people.'
Speaking on the topic of 'culture,' Ingram pointed out that the Chinese characters on his neck translate to 'gem,' a word he finds meaning in at this point of his career, along with the fact that it 'looks really cool.'
'I'm a gemstone, I feel like that's why he came and got me,' said Ingram, referring to Webster.
'I've been in New Orleans. The media coverage isn't great, [compared] to most of the U.S., global. So, you know, I've not been talked about a lot. I've been injured a little bit. So, you know, I've been forgotten a little bit. I feel like coming to Toronto, I have a good chance to sprout out a little bit.'
In essence, the 27-year-old says he 'needed a fresh start,' after six years in New Orleans
After making the all-star team in his first year there, he's seen his career plateau, as he's also battled injuries, including a current one to his left ankle. It's left him sidelined since Dec. 8, and there is currently no timetable for his return.
When he does come back, the goal from both sides is clear:
'The first thing that I heard is they want to make me an all-star again,' said Ingram, adding that he wants to be a 'sponge,' but to also help shift the culture toward a winning one.
Ingram says he wanted to go somewhere where guys play hard with the goal of getting better, while he's heard great things about Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley and Darko Rajaković as people.
Along with his new teammates being focused on learning, something else stands out about them:
'Everybody goofy. Everybody wants to have fun,' said Ingram, while applauding the team's ability to still be 'professional.'
As Ingram made those comments in the Raptors' media room during his extension announcement, his teammates and coaching staff stood in the back to watch the moment unfold. That includes Barnes, who tried to hide behind a dark pair of sunglasses and a hoodie.
Brandon Ingram laughs when he realizes a few Raptors players snuck into his press conference and starts shouting them out pic.twitter.com/dKHywko0ZW
— Libaan Osman (@libaanstar1) February 12, 2025
He says he appreciates the whole team welcoming him with open arms, while he thinks it's going to be Barnes who will bring 'the goofy side' out of him.
Rajaković says over his decade-plus career in the NBA, this Raptors team is a 'very unique group' and is 'the most connected' one he's ever been part of, as he applauded their ability to root for one another.
In his introductory statement, Webster says he knew that 'Brandon wanted to be here.' On their end, the Raptors front office has been 'big fans of his for many years, dating back to his high school and college days.
'We are very fortunate to bring him on board. It's an important step, as we rebuild this roster, continue to add talent to the core.'
The Raptors are in the midst of a tough season, going into Wednesday night's matchup with a 17-37 record, good enough for the 13th seed in the Eastern Conference. A lot of talk going into this season is that it was going to be one to rebuild the team.
The conventional 'rebuild' route in the NBA involves a team losing a lot of games and trading their best players for future assets, all in hopes of acquiring high draft picks over the course of a couple years.
While the Raptors unloaded some talent last season in Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby, the front office doesn't seem keen on hitting rock bottom before finally making the push to be competitive.
Webster notes that in Ingram, they're adding a talented player, but also someone that at 27 years old is entering his prime and matches up with a lot of the other players on the team in terms of their timeline.
'As we always say, it takes a lot of really good players to win in this league, so that's most important for us. So when the opportunity came about with New Orleans, considering what we gave up in the deal, it was a no-brainer.'
In the trade, the Raptors gave up an expiring contract in Bruce Brown, veteran Kelly Olynyk, one first-round pick and one second-round pick. When it comes to their future financial situation, Webster is 'comfortable with the flexibility' they have.
'Part of the feature of this rebuild … is to have this flexibility and to be able to do a deal like this and take on Brandon, but also give us a substantial contract,' said Webster.
We don't yet know how Ingram's $120 million deal will be distributed over the next three years, but if it's a $40 million split, it means that next season he'll be the highest paid player on the Raptors' roster.
When it comes to being someone that's been somewhat forgotten, Rajaković has a hard time believing that:
'He scored [41] points against us. I did not forget that,' said the head coach, reminiscing about last year's matchup vs. the Pelicans.
In Ingram, the Raptors acquired what is likely their most talented scoring threat since Kawhi Leonard. He's averaged at least 20 points in each of his last six seasons, as he's known as someone with an elite midrange game, while still being a threat at the rim and beyond the three-point line.
The Raptors will look to take his game to the next level, helping him take a similar leap as they did with RJ Barrett when they acquired him last year.
Rajaković says he spent two hours recently catching up with Ingram. Along with finding out that Ingram always gets oxtail when in Toronto, he knows him to be 'player of substance. He has a lot of character. I think he's gonna be a really good fit for us.
'He's just a basketball hooper, and he's very, very proactive. He wants to learn. He's asking questions. He wants to elevate his game, to be at an all-star level again. And I believe that's our job to help him and to get back to being an all-star and to perform.'
Rajaković is excited for Ingram's 'huge potential' on the defensive side of the ball, behind his large wingspan and size at six-foot-eight. For now, it's about getting him healthy, since he's not sure if Ingram will be able to suit up for the Raptors this season, as they focus on entering the 2025-26 campaign ready to go.
When it comes time to hit the court, Rajaković and Ingram are both confident that he'll fit right in with their current roster construction, one that features Barnes under contract for the next five years, Quickley for the next four, and Jakob Poeltl and Barrett for the next two.
He'll be joining a starting lineup that doesn't have a consistent three-point threat, with Quickley being the best of the bunch as a 37 per cent shooter from distance for his career. Instead, they all thrive with their ball in their hands, especially as they attack the rim.
'I'll be able to just fit in anywhere,' said Ingram, noting that while he likes to have the ball in his hands, he also likes to pass the ball too, as he looks forward to the challenge of playing off-ball.
Rajaković says he believes 'they're gonna be really good fit together," applauding the roster's unselfish play, while noting that it's going to help bring a 'competitive' nature to practice as Ingram and Barnes push each other forward.
'His heart is in the right place,' said Rajakovic on Ingram. 'He cares about the right things. And when you have that, I think he's gonna rub off of Scottie, and Scotties rub off of him. I think it's going to help our whole team.'
When it comes to what stands out to Ingram about Quickley, it's his 'pop' and 'swag.' In regards to Barnes, it's that his 'teammates follow his voice,' especially as someone who's a defence-first and pass-first type of player. It's all part of a growing culture in Toronto, one 'with selfless guys that just want to win.'