ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½

The bold statement — the Raptors haven’t been in the post-season since 2022 and are coming off two seasons with more than 50 losses — comes because of Ingram’s health and the confidence he has in his talents, and from what he has seen since joining the team in a February trade.

He sat and watched games as he endured months of treatment and individual workouts, unable to help his team in any tangible way. Now that he can? He’s ready to remind everyone just how good he can be and what he can add to this ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ mix.

“I know people know my game a little bit, I think I’ll get a chance to show a little bit more of being the focal point of the offence, that I can show my playmaking skills, moving without the basketball,â€� he said. “I’m going to show them that I’ve been a three-point shooter most of my life. Just all aspects of the game. I get to show just how much of a competitor I am.â€�

Ingram was injured when ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ acquired him at February’s trade deadline for Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk and a draft pick but he has never worn a Raptors uniform in a game. The rehab was longer than anyone expected; it took months, included platelet-rich plasma treatments and required patience. There was no way ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ was going to rush the six-foot-nine 27-year-old back, and the chance to enhance the team’s lottery odds and let young players get experience were important factors.

They soothed any concerns about his long-term future in ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ by signing him to a three-year, $120-million (U.S.) contract extension days after acquiring him and set up a detailed plan of care for his ankle.

Still, it took a lot longer than Ingram envisioned.

“I never experienced that, especially from an ankle injury,â€� Ingram said. “It always took about three weeks, two or three weeks … Sometimes I didn’t know when I was going to be healthy.

“I just continued to go through the process. I feel better each and every week. We’ve got good communication with the training staff, coaches and everybody else, they’ve helped me out a lot in this process.â€�

Ingram is working out for a few days with the full roster of Raptors veterans in Las Vegas while the team’s rookies and second-year players compete in the NBA Summer League, which continues with a Sunday afternoon game against the Orlando Magic.

He was part of a large contingent courtside Friday when the kids clobbered the Chicago Bulls 116-72 in a game that showed the depth of unproven youth the Raptors have. And the way they played, with near-manic defence all around the court, was reminiscent of what ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ did at times last season while establishing a baseline study of what the team wants to do this coming season.

And as the new guy to the rotation, Ingram said he knows what standards he’ll have to live up to.

“With what I saw in the second half of the season, they play hard,� he said. “They play really, really hard, on the offensive and defensive end.

“On the offensive end, I always use the word swag. I saw that from the point guard, (Immanuel Quickley), I always tell him that, to play with swag. His attitude on the floor, knowing who we are on the basketball floor, finding an identity on the offensive end (will be important).

“They already found the identity on the defensive end. I can’t come in and mess that up. I got to be playing as hard as they are.â€�

There is no question that a healthy Ingram adds a key component to the Raptors roster. It will be up to coach Darko Rajakovic and his staff to figure out just how Ingram fits with the likes of Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett but the coach has had months to think about what schemes might work.

What it means now to Ingram is much simpler: He can play with no limits.

“My body feels good,â€� he said. “I’m ready to continue to feel good. I don’t feel rusty at all. I could be better-conditioned. But I’m in a good spot, especially for being out so long.â€�