The Los Angeles Lakers had plenty of expectations for Brandon Ingram when they selected him second overall in the 2016 NBA Draft. As did the Toronto Raptors when they traded for him before the 2025 NBA trade deadline. The Lakers never quite knew disappointment with Ingram in the way the Raptors did on Monday night.
After falling behind 1-0 in their first round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto needed a bounce-back performance in Game 2. Ingram called out his coach after Game 1, hoping to get the ball more in the second matchup. The former Laker got his wish, but failed to deliver.
Ingram scored just seven points, the lowest total of his playoff career. Not only that but he got that career playoff low while shooting a woeful 3-of-15 from the field. The Raptors forward did not look any bit of the All-Star that he was.
Toronto's offense suffered in the process. It felt like the Raptors were searching for answers on where to find consistent production all night against the Cavaliers. The timing of it all, with the series implications and the demand of being more involved on offense, could not have been worse for Ingram.
Brandon Ingram's dreadful playoff outing was historically bad for Raptors
The Lakers never got to see what playoff basketball with Ingram would have looked like. The former top-five pick was dealt away in the Anthony Davis trade that would ultimately lead to a championship for Los Angeles. After Monday night, the Lakers would not feel like they are missing out on much.
NBA stats expert Keerthika Uthayakumar pointed out on Twitter/X that Ingram's 23.3 true shooting percentage from Game 2 was the worst mark by a player with 15-plus field goal attempts in Raptors playoff history. It outpaced DeMar DeRozan's 24.0 percent from 2016 in all the worst ways.
For his part, Ingram credited the Cavaliers defense for the rough night. They certainly did their part to slow him down.
"They stuck to their game plan, tried to be physical, sent different bodies, and they contested a lot of shots," Ingram said of the Cavaliers. "I thought I had some good looks. Some shots weren't falling, but that happens throughout the game."
Ingram added that Cleveland did a strong job of packing the paint and not allowing him to get all the way to the rim. Even so, the Raptors star admitted he could have definitely been more aggressive trying to get to the rim.
All of this is a tough look for the former Lakers forward. For as great of a player as DeRozan was on the whole, he had several playoff lowlights with the Raptors. Joining his company in that department is never a good sign. That is exactly where Ingram finds himself now.
Game 3 on Thursday will offer the opportunity for a much-needed turnaround. Otherwise, the Lakers' 2016 lottery pick will quickly be headed for a 2026 offseason with a lot of tough questions at his new home with Toronto.
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