The Raptors’ new star finally recovered from injury

Brandon Ingram finally sees light at the end of the tunnel. Absent from the court since December 7th, the Toronto Raptors forward has been cleared for contact after an ankle injury that had prematurely ended his season.

Brandon Ingram Cleared For Contact, Will Begin Scrimmaging Soon https://t.co/JESvqNfxvh

— RealGM (@RealGM) July 11, 2025

A highly anticipated return for the Raptors

« He’s not feeling any pain, he’s moving well, he’s gotten stronger, » Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic told TSN on Thursday. « He’s feeling really, really good right now. » The former 27-year-old All-Star is expected to participate in the team’s upcoming summer practices, marking a crucial step in his recovery process.

Ingram had been doing individual workouts with the Raptors while continuing his rehabilitation since his injury occurred while still playing for the New Orleans Pelicans. He joined Toronto last February in a trade that sent Bruce Brown and Kelly Olynyk to the Pelicans.

Contract extension despite absence

A few days after this trade, Ingram signed a three-year, $120 million extension with the Raptors, including a player option for the 2027-2028 season. Paradoxically, he has yet to play a single game in his new colors. He was officially shut down for the remainder of the season on April 9th after receiving a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection to aid his healing.

Before his injury, the former 2nd overall pick in the 2016 Draft was averaging 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.2 assists in 18 games during the 2024-2025 season. Over his career, he has averaged 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in 495 games between the Lakers and Pelicans.

With Brandon Ingram finally at 100%, plus Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, and Jakob Poeltl, the Raptors hope to climb up the Eastern Conference hierarchy next season, after three consecutive seasons without playoffs. Training camp will begin on September 25th, giving the forward an opportunity to prepare for his first full season in Toronto.