Brandon Ingram drives to the basket during an NBA game.
Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram has apologized after theNBA fined him $25,000 for spiking a water bottle during Toronto’s loss at Philadelphia, an outburst that struck a bystander near the bench and briefly delayed the game. Ingram called it raw frustration and said he repeatedly apologized to the person who was hit,according to a report from Sportsnet.
The league announced the discipline on Monday, citing Ingram for “forcibly throwing” a water bottle to the floor while on the bench during Saturday night’s game at Wells Fargo Center. No suspension accompanied the fine, and Ingram remained available for selection.
Ingram returned to action after the incident and finished with 21 points, eight rebounds and five assists in a 130–120 defeat. For the season, he’s averaging 21.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists. He joined Toronto via a February trade and is expected to be a primary scorer this year.
‘Emotions of the Game’: Ingram’s Apology
Addressing the clip that circulated over the weekend, Ingram framed the moment as the emotions of a frustrating night boiling over.
“It was just the emotions of the game… how I was playing offensively and defensively—just frustration,” Ingram told Sportsnet. “I wish I wouldn’t have had anybody else involved when I did that. While I apologized a bunch of times to the kid that got hit in the face with the water bottle—it wasn’t my intention at all. But… I was just frustrated in the midst of the game.”
Video angles showed the bottle ricocheting off the floor and hitting a nearby game attendant, with water splashing onto others at the end of the Raptors’ bench. Reports also noted a brief delay for cleanup after the spike.
𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐲
Meet Brandon Ingram, an overpaid athlete who barely plays and throws bottles on the ground when mad.
A real man-child. He doesn’t apologize and just stands there when middle-class workers have to clean his mess.
This is lame.
What It Means for the Raptors
From a basketball standpoint, the league’s move amounts to a fine only, so Toronto avoids a rotation hole and any immediate suspension-related ripple effects. Ingram remains a key usage piece alongside Scottie Barnes and the Raptors’ primary creators, and the club’s expectation is accountability and focus moving forward. There’s no indication of additional league discipline at this time.
Toronto will want the incident to fade quickly as it tries to stabilize early-season form. Ingram’s shot creation and secondary playmaking are central to how head coach Darko Rajakovic staggers lineups; any absence would have shifted more touches to Barnes and the second unit. As it stands, the message is simple: pay the fine, move on, and keep the focus on results.
Stats, Schedule & Context for Toronto
Game in question: Raptors at 76ers on November 8, 130–120 final. Ingram was hit with a technical and later returned.
Incident details (per league & reports): Forcibly threw the bottle from the bench; it struck a bystander and caused a brief delay.
Ingram’s line that night: 21/8/5. Season to date: 21.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 4 apg.
Social reaction: Clips of the moment went viral,with fans debating intent and calling for contrition; Ingram’s apology addresses that directly.
Next game: November 13 vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Why this matters
League discipline always grabs attention when it involves an All-Star and a viral courtside moment. Toronto avoids a bigger competitive hit because there’s no suspension attached, and Ingram’s public apology should help turn the page—particularly if he stacks productive nights this week. For a team trying to climb the Eastern Conference ladder, keeping its top scorers available is the real win from Monday’s decision.