Brandon Xavier 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. During his first season with the New Orleans Pelicans, he became a first-time NBA All-Star and was named the NBA Most Improved Player in 2020. Ingram signed a three-year, $120 million contract extension with Toronto 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 and Joann Ingram. He has two half-siblings, an older brother named Donovan and an older sister named Brittany. His father Donald began his career as a police officer and later managed a local gym before working full-time at a welding plant. Before settling down, Donald was a would-be professional basketball player who competed in semi-pro leagues. When he returned to Kinston, he played pickup games with Jerry Stackhouse, a future NBA star and fellow Kinston native, which forged a friendship between the two men.
Donovan Ingram went on to play college basketball for South Plains College from 2008 to 2010 and later UT Arlington from 2010 to 2012. By the time Brandon reached eighth grade, Stackhouse became his AAU coach and mentored the young basketball player. These influences took his game to the next level, with his father serving as the foundation for his development. Donald Ingram was also a high school and collegiate referee, which helped train Brandon correctly both mentally and physically.
Path to Basketball
Ingram grew up in Kinston, North Carolina, where he attended Kinston High School. He helped lead the Kinston Vikings to four consecutive state championships during his four years there, becoming the first men’s basketball player in North Carolina to accomplish that feat. The Vikings became the first 2A school in state history to win four consecutive state titles. During his senior season, Ingram averaged 24.3 points and 10.4 rebounds per game while leading the team to a 26-4 record.
He was rated as a five-star recruit and considered among the best high school prospects of the 2015 class. He was ranked as the No. 3 overall recruit by ESPN and Scout, and No. 4 overall by Rivals. Ingram was named North Carolina’s Mr. Basketball and Player of the Year by the North Carolina Basketball Coaches Association. He was also named to the McDonald’s All-American Game, where he scored 15 points and had five rebounds. He committed to Duke University on April 27, 2015, to play for the Blue Devils in the 2015-16 season.
Brandon Xavier Ingram Career
Los Angeles Lakers (2016–2019)
Ingram was selected with the second overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. Being only 18 years old at the time, he was the second-youngest player drafted in 2016. On August 23, 2016, he signed his rookie-scale contract with the Lakers and made his debut that October, scoring nine points off the bench in a win over the Houston Rockets. He recorded his first career start in November 2016, scoring 16 points against the Golden State Warriors. At the end of his rookie season, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
During the 2017-18 season, Ingram scored a career-high 32 points in an overtime loss to the Golden State Warriors. The following season, he scored another career-high of 36 points against the Philadelphia 76ers in January 2019. However, in March 2019, Ingram was ruled out for the remainder of the season due to a deep vein thrombosis in his arm.
New Orleans Pelicans (2019–2025)
On July 6, 2019, the Lakers traded Ingram to the New Orleans Pelicans as part of a package for All-Star Anthony Davis. In his first season with the Pelicans, Ingram recorded a career-high 49 points in an overtime win against the Utah Jazz in January 2020. He became an NBA All-Star for the first time in his career 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 signed a five-year, $158 million contract extension in the 2020 offseason.
During the 2021-22 playoffs, Ingram helped lead the Pelicans to a competitive series against the Phoenix Suns. He recorded 37 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists in Game 2, and the Pelicans forced the series to six games despite ultimately losing. On March 24, 2023, Ingram achieved the first triple-double of his career with 30 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists against the Charlotte Hornets. He recorded a second triple-double with 31 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists just six days later against the Denver Nuggets.
On February 6, 2024, Ingram recorded 41 points, nine rebounds, and six assists in a win against the Toronto Raptors. He became the first player in NBA history to record at least 40 points, eight or more three-pointers made, and shoot at least 75 percent from the field while committing zero turnovers in a single game. On December 8, 2024, Ingram sustained a left ankle sprain against the Oklahoma City Thunder, which ended up being his final game with the Pelicans.
Toronto Raptors (2025–present)
On February 6, 2025, Ingram was traded to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk, a 2026 first-round draft pick, and a 2031 second-round draft pick. On February 12, 2025, he signed a three-year, $120 million contract extension with the team. However, on April 9, 2025, he was officially shut down for the remainder of the season following a PRP injection in his ankle to aid in his recovery, never appearing in a game for the franchise during his first season.
Playing Style and Strengths
Ingram is a 6-foot-8-inch prototypical modern wing scorer with size and feel for the game. His length and shooting touch allow him to shoot over defenders, hit jumpers, and create tough baskets in isolation or when the offense stalls. He has drawn frequent comparisons to Kevin Durant, and Durant himself has said that Ingram reminds him of looking in a mirror. Since joining the Raptors, Ingram has been one of the primary offensive options, averaging around 21-22 points per game while showing efficient scoring across multiple levels.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of Ingram’s most memorable performances came on January 16, 2020, when he scored a career-high 49 points in an overtime win against the Utah Jazz. He gave New Orleans a one-point lead with a fadeaway jumper with 0.2 seconds remaining in regulation before the game went to overtime. During the 2022 playoffs, Ingram recorded 37 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists in Game 2 against the Phoenix Suns. His milestone achievements include two NBA All-Star selections, the 2020 NBA Most Improved Player award, and ACC Rookie of the Year honors.
Brandon Xavier Ingram Career Wins
Throughout his career, Ingram has accumulated notable achievements at both the collegiate and professional levels. He won four consecutive state championships in high school and earned ACC Rookie of the Year honors during his lone season at Duke. In the NBA, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2017, became an NBA All-Star in 2020, and was awarded the NBA Most Improved Player in the same season.
Other Highlights
Beyond his NBA career, Ingram represented the United States national team at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, where the team finished fourth overall. He was also selected to the 2016 U.S. Select Team, which trained with the 2016 U.S. Olympic basketball team. His individual game performances include multiple 40-point games and the first two triple-doubles of his career during the 2022-23 season with the Pelicans.
Brandon Xavier Ingram Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Ingram comes from a basketball family through his father Donald, who played in semi-pro leagues before becoming a police officer and gym manager. His older brother Donovan played college basketball at South Plains College and UT Arlington. NBA veteran Jerry Stackhouse, a Kinston native, became a mentor to Ingram during his youth and served as his AAU coach starting in eighth grade.
Personal Life
As of January 2026, Ingram is currently in a relationship with rapper Glorilla. Growing up, one of his favorite activities was fishing with his grandmother at Atlantic Beach. Ingram signed with Excel Sports Management and has endorsement deals with Adidas Basketball. He also has artistic talents, including drawing basketball players and cartoon characters, which he developed further by taking a portrait drawing class at Duke University.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season presented unique challenges for Ingram following his midseason trade to Toronto. After joining the Raptors, he signed a lucrative three-year, $120 million contract extension, signaling the franchise’s commitment to building around him. However, he never appeared in a game for Toronto during the remainder of the season due to recovery from a PRP injection in his ankle, which was sustained before the trade. The Raptors ultimately finished with a 25-57 record, and Ingram’s season ended without any game action for his new team. Despite the setback, his All-Star selection for the 2026 season demonstrated the organization’s belief in his long-term value and potential impact when healthy.