The Toronto star went honest about being excluded from the 2026 All-Star reserves.
Toronto Raptors star Brandon Ingram was candid enough to admit that he took a blow upon not being selected for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game.
“In the moment, of course, it stung,” Ingram said after the Raptors' 107-100 Sunday win over the Utah Jazz, via Sportsnet's Michael Grange. "It was hard to internalize during the game.
"I had to put it away and figure out the best way to be effective on the floor and win the game today.”
Before the weekend matchup, the NBA unveiled the official reserves for this year's All-Star Game. While Scottie Barnes made it to the cut in the East, Ingram unfortunately failed on the other hand.
Ingram has led the Raptors in scoring this season (21.9) while averaging 5.9 boards and 3.7 assists in 49 games. His arrival and scoring punch allowed Toronto to enter the discussion among the East's top teams.
Thanks to Ingram, the Raptors are 30-21 right now and sitting at No. 4 in the Conference ladder. For all of these, both Barnes and Darko Rajakovic were wondering why the 28-year-old wasn't even considered in the voting.
This season has been a huge revelation for Ingram. After enduring disappointments and injuries in New Orleans for the past couple of seasons, he immediately found a home and a needed break for his career as a Raptor.
Despite being snubbed, Ingram is determined enough to bounce back and help the Raptors for the rest of the year.
“I ain’t done it yet. I think I gotta do it again [prove himself],” Ingram said, who earned his first All-Star nod in 2020. “I’ve kind of stepped back and given myself a little grace. There have been days when I’ve woke up a little tired, my body wasn’t feeling great, but I still pushed through. Shout out to the medical team for keeping me on the floor as much as possible. This is as much as I’ve played in a long time. The second half of the season should be a great one.”
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