The persistent discomfort in Brandon Ingram’s right heel, which led the Toronto Raptors forward to withdraw prematurely from a crucial Game 5 and subsequently miss Games 6 and 7 of their initial playoff round versus the Cleveland Cavaliers, ultimately necessitated a surgical procedure.
On Friday, the Raptors declared that Ingram underwent an intervention to excise a heel spur. According to the squad’s statement, the athlete, a two-time All-Star, is projected to be prepared for the September training camp.
At the point Ingram departed the court during Game 5 facing the Cavaliers, the series was evenly poised at 2-2. Cleveland emerged victorious in that match and ultimately secured the series in Game 7, progressing to the Eastern Conference semifinals.
This season, Ingram posted averages of 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists, marking his debut with the Raptors following his acquisition from the New Orleans Pelicans in a trade during the 2024-25 campaign’s deadline. The player, selected second overall in the 2016 draft, earned a spot in this year’s All-Star Game as a substitute for an ailing Stephen Curry.
Throughout Ingram’s professional basketball career, which commenced with the Los Angeles Lakers following a single standout season at Duke, various ailments have posed recurring challenges. In the 2024-25 season, he participated in merely 18 games, having been benched due to a left ankle sprain starting in early December.
During his season-ending press conference held on Monday, the 28-year-old Ingram shared his satisfaction at enjoying considerably better health throughout the regular season this time. His participation in 77 contests represented his highest total since his inaugural year.
Nevertheless, Ingram admitted: “It was tough not being able to compete in the playoffs and assist my squad, particularly in Games 6 and 7.”
The ailment in his heel manifested prior to the postseason. On Monday, he informed journalists that the issue intensified in March.
“I genuinely had no opportunity to allow it to recover,” Ingram stated. “Our goal was to reach the playoffs. After playing only 18 games last season, I made it a personal objective to be present for every game. It reached a stage of discomfort where I was unable to push off it, or perform the necessary actions on the court to be impactful.”
During the period spanning late March and early April, Ingram sat out three matches. Despite this, he featured in the Raptors’ concluding six regular-season games, along with their initial five playoff encounters.
“Upon exiting in [Game 5], I retreated backstage and attempted various methods to return,” he recounted on Monday. “My intention was to rejoin the game, but the medical team ultimately precluded me, seemingly to protect me from my own desire to play through it.”
“Consequently, that was disheartening. I absolutely wished to be on the court alongside my teammates, yet the cumulative effect of that issue since March effectively kept me sidelined.”
Toronto faced a double setback, not only missing Ingram—their top scorer for the season—but also contending with the unavailability of their primary point guard, Immanuel Quickley.
Quickley sustained a strained right hamstring during Toronto’s final regular-season game and subsequently re-aggravated the injury while undergoing rehabilitation. Consequently, he was unable to participate throughout the entirety of the initial playoff series.
“I believe the outcome would certainly have varied had we both been playing,” Ingram remarked on Monday.
