The Toronto Raptors and the New Orleans Pelicans faced off Wednesday night, and there were various storylines going into this meeting. Some notable examples included forward Sandro Mamukelashvili logging eight points in his return to the starting lineup yesterday against Houston, Jakob Poeltl’s return to the hardwood and immeasurably more. However, one storyline holds more value in contrast to the others.
Brandon Ingram returned to face a familiar foe: the New Orleans Pelicans.
In what was an exciting return to New Orleans, BI showed out. In spite of Ingram scoring a lackluster nine points in 36 minutes yesterday vs Houston, he bounced back scoring 22 points in 38 minutes on an efficient 8-of-19 from the field. Although Ingram’s night didn’t lead to a Toronto victory, it was a message to all fans in the “Bayou” showing what they traded away.
Raptors’ Brandon Ingram Logs 22 Points in Return to the Big Easy
The New Orleans Era
Brandon Ingram has a long history with the Big Easy, heck five plus years for that matter. New Orleans acquired Ingram in the midst of a blockbuster package in 2019, sending former Pelican Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers, in exchange for Josh Hart, Lonzo Ball, and three first-round draft picks. To add on, New Orleans also drafted Duke’s Zion Williamson with the number one overall pick thanks to the deal. This acquisition brought promising hope for the future down in New Orleans, and for the time being, the Pelicans didn’t disappoint.
In Ingram’s tenure in New Orleans (2019-2025), he achieved a career high in points averaging 23.8 PPG, won the 2019-20 Most Improved Player Award, appeared in the 2020 NBA All-Star Game and two NBA playoff series (vs. the Phoenix Suns and Oklahoma City Thunder) in both 2022 and 2024. All these accomplishments made Ingram a household name for basketball in the “Big Easy” becoming a major contributor in the teams’ success.
However, this is where the tables turn.
The Toronto Arrival
Mar 11, 2026; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Toronto Raptors forward/guard Scottie Barnes (4) and forward Brandon Ingram (3) slap hands after a play against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
In 2024-25, Ingram suffered multiple injuries as well as co-star Zion Williamson. This affected the Pelicans wholeheartedly, and on Feb. 6th, 2025, the Pelicans pulled the trigger, trading him to the Raptors. The move shocked many, but change was a necessity. Immediately after the deal, Toronto made a commitment to Ingram, signing him to a three-year, $120 million extension.
Ingram’s first year as a Raptor is so far proving that New Orleans made a mistake. This season, BI is averaging 21.5 PPG, helping Toronto achieve a 36-29 record. The 28-year old has appeared in over 63 games shooting 82.3% from the line and 46.7% from the field. These numbers helped earn Ingram a spot on the 2026 NBA All-Star Roster, the second selection in his 10-year career.
With a defensive-minded head coach in Darko Rajakovic, Ingram has certainly proves he belongs as a leader on and off the court, mentoring younger players and setting the tone in crucial moments. Despite turnovers being a struggle with BI this season, he is playing 34 minutes a night and is one of the main pieces in the Raptors’ scheme.
All in all, Brandon Ingram’s NBA career has been an underrated one. From his time in Los Angeles to New Orleans and now Toronto, he is still playing the game of basketball at a very efficient level. The “6ix” certainly has a star on the hardwood.
© Stephen Lew-Imagn Images