The Toronto Raptors — led by Brandon Ingram — have emerged as a surprise during the 2025-26 NBA season. Ranking second in the Eastern Conference, the Raptors have made sure to make their mark this season, looking to keep the tempo going for the remainder of the season.
Ingram continues to impress fans, recently dropping a season-high 37 points during their eighth straight win against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday. Ingram, however, has a different person to thank for their team’s inspiring spirit.
Raptors Star Brandon Ingram Has Hilarious Answer While Choosing Favorite Early-Season Moment
Following the Raptors’ 110-99 win, Ingram spoke to the media about his exceptional performance. And while they discussed the Raptors, Ingram was asked to share a highlight he’d like to recall.
Seizing the opportunity, Ingram chose to hype their head coach, Darko Rajaković.
“He’s the leader of our team.”
Brandon Ingram gives tons of praise to Darko Rajakovic for their current run 👇🏼 pic.twitter.com/VNo3GD63er
— The Athletic NBA Daily (@AthleticNBAShow) November 25, 2025
“Darko coming into the locker room yelling. That’s not just one day, it’s everyday,” Ingram said, drawing out a hearty laugh from the media room. “…He’s the leader of our team.”
The 28-year-old highlighted Rajaković’s infectious energy, explaining how it creates a massive impact in the locker room.
“For me, that’s the best part about being here, our coach is present every single day,” Ingram added.
The Raptors’ happy locker room atmosphere has easily transferred to their on-court performance, earning them a solid 13-5 win-loss record.
Ingram was referring to Rajaković’s locker room videos released when the season began, the HC going around yelling and hyping every single player present.
Fans had been in awe of Rajaković’s resolve, believing his positivity would rub off on players. Almost a month later, and easily one of the best teams in the league, one can see the head coach’s efforts paying off.
Previously an assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, and Memphis Grizzlies, the Raptors are Rajaković’s first head coaching job in the NBA. He took over in 2023. Ingram, too, has continued to shine under his leadership. The former New Orleans Pelicans star has maximized his impact on the floor, focusing on a well-balanced approach.
Ingram arrived in Toronto in February. The whole ordeal was a massive change for the forward, who had been playing for a completely different market like New Orleans.
“It’s a top-notch organization. And I think the organization made an imprint on the team. And we work really, really hard. When I came here in February, that’s the first thing that I noticed,” Ingram said after his move.
He added, “You know, in February, you don’t get a lot of teams that come and practice and play hard. So, you know, we have a lot of guys that really, really care about the game, not the politics of the game, but really care about the game. And when you have guys that are bought in and selfless, you start to see them from there.”
That being said, Ingram is averaging 20.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and four assists per game while shooting 48.5% from the field.
The Raptors will face the Indiana Pacers next on Wednesday, November 26. With the Pacers ranked 14th with a 2-15 record, the Raptors have a good chance of extending their winning streak to nine.
