Apr 10, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) dribbles up court during the first half against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
The Los Angeles Clippers are in some dark times right now, and the only thing getting them through it is the hope surrounding their young and talented roster. As currently constructed, while the Clippers cannot compete for a title, they can still contend for the playoffs and show some signs of life after the NBA’s weeping penalties this summer.
For better or worse, Brandon Ingram will be the x-factor for this team, and his play will likley define their season. So when one NBA insider mentioned how he’s still recovering from offseason foot surgery, it raised more than a few eyebrows across the league.
“Brandon Ingram had surgery in the offseason on his foot, on his heel,” said Brian Windhorst on NBA Today. “We don’t have an update on how he’s gonna be. We’re gonna hear at media day where he’s at with his heel.”
While it wasn’t widely known at the time, Ingram was apparently dealing with a heel spur during the season, leading up to the Raptors‘ first-round loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. It began back in March, costing him three late regular-season games, before the foot was re-aggravated in Game 5, causing him to miss Game 6 of the series.
In May, after the action ended, Ingram opted for foot surgery to deal with the nagging pain, and it’s still unclear what impact it will have going into next season. While the typical recovery time is 6-12 weeks, Ingram may not be ready to play yet as he looks to regain his strength and establish a rhythm on the court.
A nightmare scenario for the Clippers would be if Ingram somehow suffered a setback, compromising his health and availability for the upcoming season. Amid all that they’ve lost this summer (Kawhi Leonard, $30 million, and five-firstround picks), not having their leading star on the floor by opening night would amount to yet another blow for the franchise.
Plus, if the injury lingers through the season, it could severely limit his impact and production on the floor. How much the Clippers actually knew about Ingram’s foot before the trade is a mystery, but it’s tough when you realize the Clippers only got back two first-round picks in the initial trade deal.
Ultimately, with averages of 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game on 47.7% shooting last season, there’s no question what Ingram can do on the court. He’s an elite wing scorer and shot creator with a decade of NBA experience. But at 29, he’s getting older now, and his health is becoming an increasingly bigger concern. Whether his foot is merely a random setback or a sign of things to come is not yet known, but the Clippers cannot afford any more problems.
Fortunately, we won’t have to wait long until the next update on Ingram, but we can expect the Clippers to excersize caution regardless of his condition. With the situation so delicate, they need every advantage they can get, including the production of their best perimeter player. That being said, they won’t compromise his long-term health for any immediate prosperity.