After two seasons near the cellar of the Eastern Conference, the Toronto Raptors have come roaring back to life in 2025-26. One of the NBA’s biggest positive surprises, they enter into Wednesday night’s action on an eight-game winning streak.
A huge part of their success goes back to a trade they made last February. They sent Bruce Brown and Kelly Olynyk over to the New Orleans Pelicans, and brought in former All-Star Brandon Ingram.
The Notorious BI3 has provided a massive scoring punch since debuting this season, and given them their most efficient isolation scorer since DeMar DeRozan.
As the team is sitting pretty, it’s showing that their patience over the past few campaigns was absolutely worth it.
Let’s get into what’s working so well for Toronto, as they continue to ascend.
Brandon Ingram Leading Raptors Balanced Attack
The 2025-26 Toronto Raptors have been a wonderful story. Third-year coach Darko Rajaković was throwing pizza parties after three-game winning streaks just two seasons ago. And now here they are, having won eight games in a row, poised to extend the streak a bit more.
Brandon Ingram was absolutely worth the wait, as his play to open this campaign has proved. He was injured when the team brought him at last year’s deadline, and he has been one of the most efficient scorers in the entire association through the first few games.
Six different Toronto players are averaging double-digit scoring, with Ingram leading the way at 21.4 a night. On top of that, they had a game where Jamison Battle snuck off the bench to score 20 second-half points on 7-7 FG against the Cleveland Cavaliers in October.
Ingram dropped 37 to help lead the team past the Cavs for the third time this season the other night, extending the streak to eight games.
BI has given them the veteran leadership they’ve been missing. The isolation scoring he has been able to do against the best wings around the league has been impressive. Against the better teams, he has come up big.
Scottie Barnes already has an All-Star selection to his name. His all-around offensive game, combined with his defensive versatility, has made him one of the most valuable pieces here. And though RJ Barrett is expected to miss 4-6 weeks with a knee injury, the depth of the Raptors should be able to help them withstand.
Are the Toronto Raptors Legit?
Three wins over the Cleveland Cavaliers has helped to prove the legitimacy of the Raptors. They have a 28-point win over the Milwaukee Bucks. Two wins over the Atlanta Hawks have helped as well.
Pairing Brandon Ingram with Scottie Barnes in the front court has added a new element. The team has had a few seasons to get things going and find chemistry. The trade of OG Anunoby from the New York Knicks for Barrett and Immanuel Quickley helped get things started.
They brought in big man Sandro Mamukelashvili from the Spurs, and he’s added some nice floor spacing to the lineup. He is one of the six guys averaging in double-figures. Jamal Shead has continued to hound opposing guards as well.
Toronto has a six-game stretch, beginning on November 30th, that features two dates with the Boston Celtics, a meeting with the Knicks, a battle with the Lakers, and a battle with the Portland Trail Blazers.
This period will say a lot about where the team sits as the competition gets a little tougher.
Brandon Ingram is balling. The Raptors patience in the past few seasons, along with key trades, has them looking like a playoff team.
We The North is all the way up.
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