Brandon Ingram Bio
Brandon Xavier Ingram (born September 2, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the second overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. He was later traded to the New Orleans Pelicans, where he became a first-time NBA All-Star and won the NBA Most Improved Player award in 2020.
Standing 6 feet 8 inches tall with a 7-foot-3-inch wingspan, Ingram plays primarily at the small forward position. Known for his scoring touch and playmaking ability, he signed a three-year, $120 million contract extension with the Raptors in February 2025.
Early Life and Background
Brandon Xavier Ingram was born on September 2, 1997, in Kinston, North Carolina. He is the son of Donald Ingram and Joann Ingram. He has two half-siblings: an older brother, Donovan, and an older sister, Brittany. Ingram shares a father with Donovan and a mother with Brittany.
Ingram grew up in a one-story house on Highland Avenue in Kinston, a city that experienced a high crime rate during his childhood. Despite those surroundings, he kept his focus on basketball. His father, Donald, was a would-be semi-pro hoops player who later became a police officer, gym manager, and full-time worker at a welding plant. Donald also worked as a high school and collegiate referee. Brandon’s older brother Donovan taught him the game on weekends, allowing him to play with older friends, an experience Ingram called the best thing that ever happened to my game.
Before Ingram reached eighth grade, former NBA star and Kinston native Jerry Stackhouse became his Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) coach and mentored the young basketball player. Ingram has said those influences took him to the next level, while his father trained him correctly, both mentally and physically, so he grew up knowing the rules of the game.
Path to Basketball
Ingram played all four years of high school basketball at Kinston High School and helped lead the Kinston Vikings to four straight North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) 2A state championships. As a freshman he came off the bench, but his role grew as the team defeated Cuthbertson High School for the 2012 state title. As a sophomore he averaged 12.4 points per game and led Kinston to a second consecutive championship.
During his junior year, Ingram averaged 19.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, and 1.5 assists per game, leading the Vikings to a 26–4 record and a third consecutive state title. He was named Eastern Regional Most Valuable Player. As a senior, he averaged 24.3 points and 10.4 rebounds per game and led Kinston to a fourth consecutive NCHSAA 2A crown, scoring 28 points with 10 rebounds and 5 blocks in the championship game. He became the first men’s basketball player in North Carolina history to win four consecutive state titles. Ingram was named North Carolina’s Mr. Basketball, a Parade All-American, and a McDonald’s All-American.
Rated as a five-star recruit and considered among the best high school prospects of the 2015 class, Ingram committed to Duke University in April 2015. In his lone season with the Duke Blue Devils, he averaged 17.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game and was named Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Rookie of the Year. After the season, he declared for the 2016 NBA draft and was selected second overall by the Los Angeles Lakers.
Brandon Ingram Career
Los Angeles Lakers Era (2016–2019)
Ingram made his NBA debut on October 26, 2016, scoring nine points off the bench in a 120–114 win over the Houston Rockets. He was utilized as a point forward by coach Luke Walton and drew frequent comparisons to Kevin Durant because of his long arms, smooth shot, and slender frame. On December 17, 2016, he finished one assist and one point shy of becoming the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double. He closed his rookie season by being named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
During his second season with the Lakers, Ingram set several career highs, including 32 points against the Golden State Warriors on November 29, 2017, and 14 rebounds against the Charlotte Hornets on January 5, 2018. He also drilled a game-winning three-pointer with 0.8 seconds remaining to lift Los Angeles over the Philadelphia 76ers on December 7, 2017. In his third season, he recorded a career-high 36 points against the 76ers on January 29, 2019, before being ruled out for the remainder of the year on March 9 due to a deep vein thrombosis in his arm.
New Orleans Pelicans Era (2019–2025)
On July 6, 2019, the Lakers traded Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, the draft rights to De’Andre Hunter, two first-round picks, a first-round pick swap, and cash to the New Orleans Pelicans for All-Star Anthony Davis. Ingram quickly blossomed with the Pelicans, scoring a then-career-high 40 points against the Brooklyn Nets on November 4, 2019, and then erupting for 49 points in a 138–132 overtime win over the Utah Jazz on January 16, 2020. He became an NBA All-Star for the first time that season and was named the NBA Most Improved Player after averaging 23.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. He later signed a five-year, $158 million contract extension with New Orleans.
Ingram continued to develop as a playmaker, recording a career-high 12 assists against the Dallas Mavericks on December 3, 2021, and hitting a game-winning three-pointer to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 11, 2022. During the 2022 playoffs he averaged 27.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 6.2 assists against the Phoenix Suns despite New Orleans losing in six games. On March 24, 2023, he recorded his first career triple-double with 30 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists against the Charlotte Hornets, and on February 6, 2024, he put up 41 points against the Toronto Raptors, becoming the first player in NBA history to score at least 40 points with eight or more three-pointers, shoot 75 percent or better from the field, and commit no turnovers.
Toronto Raptors Era (2025–Present)
On February 6, 2025, the Pelicans traded Ingram to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk, a 2026 first-round draft pick (via Indiana), and a 2031 second-round draft pick. On February 12, 2025, he signed a three-year, $120 million contract extension with the franchise. Before ever suiting up for Toronto, Ingram was officially shut down for the remainder of the 2024–25 season on April 9 following a platelet-rich plasma injection in his ankle to aid his recovery.
Driving Style and Strengths
Ingram’s game is built around length and versatility. His 7-foot-3-inch wingspan and 9-foot-1-inch standing reach allow him to score over defenders and contest shots defensively. He handles the ball like a guard, initiates offense from the wing, and has expanded his range as a three-point shooter. Like Kevin Durant, whom he has studied closely, Ingram has occasionally been questioned about his slim frame, but coaches and teammates have praised his toughness and skill.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Ingram’s defining moments are his 49-point game against the Utah Jazz in 2020, his back-to-back triple-doubles in March 2023, his historic 41-point performance against the Toronto Raptors in 2024, and his four consecutive North Carolina high school state championships. He was also a member of the United States national team that finished fourth at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Brandon Ingram Career Highlights
Across his NBA career, Brandon Ingram has emerged as an All-Star scorer and playmaker. He earned NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors in 2017, became an NBA All-Star in 2020, and won the NBA Most Improved Player award the same year. He was also a member of the 2016 U.S. select team and the 2023 FIBA World Cup squad.
NBA Career Highlights
Ingram’s NBA resume includes a 49-point career high against the Utah Jazz, multiple triple-doubles with the New Orleans Pelicans, and a game-winning three-pointer against the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2022. He posted 37 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists in a playoff victory over the Phoenix Suns in 2022 and recorded a historic 41-point, eight-three-pointer, zero-turnover line against the Toronto Raptors in 2024.
Other Wins and Performances
At the high school level, Ingram led Kinston High School to four straight North Carolina 2A state championships and was named North Carolina’s Mr. Basketball. At Duke, he was named ACC Rookie of the Year after leading the Blue Devils to the Sweet 16 of the 2016 NCAA tournament. He also represented the United States at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, where the team finished fourth.
Brandon Ingram Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Brandon Xavier Ingram is the son of Donald Ingram and Joann Ingram. His father played semi-pro basketball before working as a police officer, gym manager, and welder, and also refereed high school and college games. His older half-brother, Donovan, taught him basketball on weekends and later played college basketball at South Plains College and UT Arlington. Former NBA star Jerry Stackhouse, a Kinston native, became Ingram’s Amateur Athletic Union coach in eighth grade and remains a key mentor in his development.
Personal Life
Growing up, one of Ingram’s favorite activities was fishing with his grandmother at Atlantic Beach. He signed with Excel Sports Management and is represented by founder and president Jeff Schwartz. In 2016, he signed an endorsement deal with Adidas Basketball. As of 2025, Ingram is in a relationship with rapper Glorilla.
2025 Season Performance
Ingram began the 2024–25 season with the New Orleans Pelicans but was limited by a left ankle sprain suffered on December 8, 2024, against the Oklahoma City Thunder, which proved to be his final game with New Orleans. On February 6, 2025, he was traded to the Toronto Raptors as part of a package built around his expiring contract. Six days later, he signed a three-year, $120 million extension with Toronto, signaling the franchise’s long-term commitment to him as a building block.
Because Ingram had not yet played a game for Toronto before the February trade and continued to recover from his ankle injury, the Raptors officially shut him down for the remainder of the 2024–25 season on April 9 following a platelet-rich plasma injection. As a result, his on-court contributions for Toronto are expected to begin in the 2025–26 season.
Looking ahead, Ingram is slated to enter the 2025–26 campaign as one of Toronto’s featured scorers and primary playmakers. With his ankle healthy and his new contract in place, the Raptors will look to build their offense around his scoring, facilitating, and wing defense. His progression will be a key storyline for a young Toronto team looking to climb the Eastern Conference standings.