Brandon Ingram
Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) makes a move against Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
After the Toronto Raptors dispatched the Utah Jazz on Sunday night on a night Scottie Barnes was named to his second NBA all-star game, the post-game reaction wasn’t all upbeat.
While everyone was happy for Barnes, there was some shock and even anger that leading scorer Brandon Ingram was not selected by Eastern Conference head coaches to make his own second all-star trip.
“I think it’s a travesty that BI isn’t on the team,” Raptors veteran leader Garrett Temple told the Toronto Sun.
“Done great for us, he’s fit in like a glove. Personality-wise, offensively, to be able to have a guy that you can go to that can create his own shot in the mid- range like he does, helps us tremendously,” Temple said.
“A lot of onus gets on him sometimes when we get stagnant, but he’s been able to pull us through a lot of games, and I appreciate him for that.”
Head coach Darko Rajakovic said at his post-game availability “while we’re talking about Scottie, I feel disappointed that BI did not make it to all-star as well. I think that he definitely deserved it,” Rajakovic said. “I think the way he’s competing and playing this year, and how much he’s putting into it, and the way he’s scoring and helping us to win basketball games. I think that he definitely deserves to be in.”
One Raptor wondered how the coaches could constantly say how much they value winning and then leave off a player that has been so crucial to Toronto’s charge up the standings.
Barnes said “I don’t know how (Ingram didn’t make it). He been balling. He does so much for out team, and being from where our team was last year (they equalled the 2024-25 total of 30 wins with Sunday’s victory) to this year, his impact on our team is instrumental to our success,” Barnes said. ‘It’s ridiculous that he’s not there.”
Some time later another Raptor yelled out “f***ing ridiculous,” as Ingram prepared to give his thoughts to a few reporters.
When the soft-spoken forward did talk, he was calm and measured, brushing away any lingering disappointment.
“In the moment, of course it stung,” Ingram said.
“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.”
“We always talk about standards for self. Maybe my standard is equal to what they think my standards should be, as well,” Ingram said. “It’s only motivation to keep going, keep finding ways to get better and keep trying to win.”