"Brandon Ingram is not a natural passer and playmaker. That is not to say he cannot fill that role, as he has at many points during his career. In six seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans he averaged 5.2 assists per game, often playing alongside guards who were comfortable deferring to Ingram as the primary creator. That worked fine for Ingram and the Pelicans, but it never unlocked a ceiling for the team that should have been there given the talent on the roster."
"One major concern with Ingram coming to the Raptors was that it would be more of the same. That Ingram needed the ball to excel, but that the combination of Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley would be too many cooks in the kitchen. Instead, head coach Darko Rajakovic has found the right recipe for all of these ingredients to excel."
"Through 19 games, Ingram is averaging a solid 21.8 points per game, largely in line with his career numbers. Yet his assists per game are down to just 3.7, his lowest in seven years. Has he suddenly forgotten to pass? Or has his role shifted to where he isn't being asked to make plays as often? It appears to be the latter. Ingram's usage rate is still high, but he is being deployed as a play finisher rather than a play creator."
Brandon Ingram transitioned from a primary creator role with the New Orleans Pelicans to a complementary play-finisher role with the Toronto Raptors. He averaged 5.2 assists per game over six Pelicans seasons but often shared creation duties with other ball-dominant players like Zion Williamson. The Raptors' coaching staff, led by Darko Rajakovic, redistributed playmaking among Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, allowing Ingram to focus on scoring opportunities. Through 19 games, Ingram averaged 21.8 points while assists dropped to 3.7, reflecting reduced playmaking responsibilities and continued high usage as the offense's designated finisher.
Read at Raptors Rapture
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