Brandon Ingram’s All-Star Snub Says More About the Process Than the Player
It’s been four years since the Toronto Raptors sent multiple players to the NBA All-Star Game. That was back in the 2019-20 season, when Pascal Siakam and Kyle Lowry both earned spots - Siakam as a starter, Lowry as a reserve.
The Raptors were flying high then, sitting at 40-15 heading into the break, fresh off a 15-game win streak. That squad was still riding the championship wave, coached by Nick Nurse and drawing league-wide respect.
Fast forward to today, and while the Raptors are once again climbing the standings, they’ll be sending just one representative to the All-Star festivities - and it won’t be Brandon Ingram.
That’s a miss.
Let’s be clear: Ingram checks every box you want in an All-Star. Winning impact?
Check. Big moments?
Plenty. A compelling narrative?
Absolutely. This isn’t just about numbers - though those are strong - it’s about how Ingram has reshaped the identity of this Raptors team.
A Winning Impact You Can’t Ignore
Toronto finished last season as the 11th seed. This year?
They’ve climbed all the way into the top four in the East and even flirted with the second seed earlier in the year. That’s a dramatic leap, and while the Raptors’ defense has been the engine behind their success, their offense - ranked 19th - would be in far worse shape without Ingram.
He’s been the offensive lifeline, the guy who can get a bucket when everything else breaks down. Last season, the Raptors struggled to generate anything in the halfcourt. This year, Ingram’s shot-making has been the difference between grinding out wins and letting games slip away.
He’s played in 1,567 of Toronto’s 2,324 total minutes - that’s 67% of the season - and in those minutes, the Raptors are +59. That’s not just solid, that’s winning basketball, especially when you consider he’s logging those minutes against opponents’ top lineups, guarded by their best defenders. For context, Toronto’s top three minute-getters last season lost their minutes by triple digits.
Ingram has raised the floor of this team. He’s their leading scorer and has done it with a midrange game that borders on artistry - fading, twisting, elevating over double-teams, sometimes even triple coverage.
He’s the third-most efficient high-volume pull-up shooter in the league. That’s not just impressive - that’s elite.
Big Moments, Bigger Impact
All-Stars deliver when it counts, and Ingram’s had no shortage of clutch moments this season. One of the standout highlights came when he put Pascal Siakam - yes, that Siakam - on skates before hitting a cold-blooded game-winner right in his face. That’s not just a highlight; that’s a statement.
There have been countless other moments where Ingram has stepped up when the Raptors needed him most. He dropped 37 on the Cavaliers.
He dished a game-winning assist to RJ Barrett against Charlotte, then turned around and made a game-saving block on Ryan Kalkbrenner on the very next possession. These aren’t just stats on a box score - these are game-defining plays that swing outcomes.
Ingram’s not just putting up numbers - he’s delivering wins.
The Story Behind the Stats
If you’re still on the fence, consider the narrative. Ingram’s All-Star journey began with a trade - the blockbuster deal that sent Anthony Davis to the Lakers and Ingram to New Orleans. That move helped him earn his first All-Star nod, but it also came with questions: Was he just a talented scorer, or could he lead a winning team?
When he was traded to Toronto, those doubts resurfaced. He’d only played 18 games the previous year.
He hadn’t cracked 65 games in a season since his rookie year. Was this a gamble for the Raptors?
Fifty games into this season, it’s looking more like a masterstroke.
Ingram has played in 96% of Toronto’s games. He’s stayed healthy, bought into the system, and alongside Scottie Barnes, has driven the Raptors to their best record in years.
He’s not just hitting tough shots - he’s elevating the team around him. He’s impacting winning basketball in a way that few wings in the league can.
The Verdict
Brandon Ingram didn’t make the All-Star team this year. But make no mistake - he earned it.
He’s been the Raptors’ offensive engine, their late-game closer, and the centerpiece of one of the most impressive turnarounds in the league. His shot-making is elite, his moments have been memorable, and his story is one of redemption and resurgence.
Sometimes, the All-Star Game misses guys like this. But fans watching night in and night out?
They know. And so do the Raptors.