Brandon Ingram faced the New Orleans Pelicans on March 11 for the first time since they traded him to the Toronto Raptors last season. He spoke with and competed against old teammates, but the Pelicans had had the last laugh, winning 122-111.
Brandon Ingram Speaks About Playing With Zion Williamson in New Orleans
Ingram spent six years in a Pelicans uniform, averaging 23.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.2 assists in 305 games. He earned his first All-Star selection and took home Most Improved Player in the 2019-20 campaign. New Orleans reached the first round of the playoffs in 2022 and 2024 with him and Zion Williamson leading the way.
Ingram scored 22 points on 8-of-19 shooting with six rebounds, five assists, and four steals against his former squad. Williamson finished with 19 points on 7-of-12 from the field, six boards, four assists, and a steal. The Pelicans aired a tribute video on the big screen in the first quarter, emphasizing Ingram’s strong impact on the franchise.
After the game, Ingram spoke about his time in New Orleans and his partnership with Williamson.
“We wanted to build something that would lead to a championship or having a Finals appearance … [Williamson’s] a generational talent. Ain’t nobody can do what Zion does on the basketball floor … I pray for the rest of his career that he can be healthy and have a clear mind,” said Ingram.
Brandon Ingram on Zion Williamson:
“We wanted to build something that would lead to a championship, or having a Finals appearance.”
“He’s a generational talent. Ain’t nobody can do what Zion does on the basketball floor.”
“I pray for the rest of his career that he can be… pic.twitter.com/frLIcI3Rof
— Omer Osman (@OmerOsman200) March 12, 2026
Williamson has battled lower-body injuries throughout his career. However, if he plays the remaining 15 games, he will reach the 65-game mark for the first time in his seven-year career.
The 25-year-old suffered hamstring and adductor strains in November and December that caused him to miss multiple weeks. However, he has missed only one contest since December. Despite the team’s struggles, Williamson’s health is encouraging for the franchise’s future.
The two-time All-Star attacks the rim with reckless abandon. Defenders cannot consistently stop his burst of speed and athleticism at his size. Ingram witnessed this firsthand as his teammate for six campaigns. While both star forwards possessed tremendous talent as teammates, the Pelicans’ roster and their skill sets made it difficult to find consistent offensive success.
Why Did the New Orleans Pelicans Trade Ingram Last Season?
New Orleans wanted to make more room for the younger, emerging talent of Trey Murphy III, but perhaps more importantly, Williamson and Ingram’s lack of 3-point volume lowered the team’s offensive ceiling.
Williamson has never attempted many threes per game in his career. While Ingram shoots the long-ball at 36.3% over his 10-year career, he prefers to operate in the mid-range. He remains one of the best mid-range scorers in the league today. The Pelicans ranked 27th in made threes at 12.0 per game last season. Ultimately, they knew the offense needed to change and traded Ingram in a future-facing move.
