The Clippers' new top scorer had heel surgery in May, and nobody will know where he stands until media day.
The Los Angeles Clippers built their new-look roster around forward Brandon Ingram, and now the first real question of the season is about his right heel.
Ingram came over from Toronto in the trade that sent forward Kawhi Leonard back to the Raptors, and he is owed $40 million this season.
The heel is not a new problem, but it became a fresh story this week, and the timing is bad for a team that needs him ready from the opening tip in October.
How the Heel Became a Story Again
The surgery itself happened back in May.
The Raptors announced on May 8 that Ingram had a heel spur removed from his right heel by Dr. Martin O'Malley at New York's Hospital for Special Surgery, and the team's statement at the time said he was expected to fully recover and be ready for training camp in September.
He had already missed the final two games of Toronto's first-round series with the Cleveland Cavaliers, a series the Raptors lost in seven games.
ESPN's Brian Windhorst brought it back up on NBA Today this week, as Fadeaway World reported.
"Brandon Ingram had surgery in the offseason on his foot, on his heel," Windhorst said.
Windhorst added that there has been no update on how Ingram is doing and that the team should say more at media day.
That day comes Monday at Intuit Dome, and the Clippers then fly to Honolulu for training camp from Sept. 29 to Oct. 3, according to Hoops Rumors.
Why the Early Schedule Raises the Stakes
Ingram was an All-Star last season, averaging 21.5 points in 77 games for Toronto, and he is the one proven scorer the Clippers can build every night around.
He has a real path to another All-Star season in Los Angeles if he is healthy.
The worry is that his health has been up and down, since he played only 18 games in the 2024-25 season.
The Clippers open the season on Oct. 21 at home against the Sacramento Kings, and then the schedule turns hard.
They visit the Lakers two days later, play at Oklahoma City on Oct. 25 and host the Lakers again on Oct. 28.
A slow start from Ingram, or a few missed games while the heel settles, could put this team in a hole before Halloween.
Why the Clippers Need Him Healthy
The front office was expected to keep Ingram instead of flipping him after the trade, and that choice makes him the face of this roster.
Guard Darius Garland and guard Bradley Beal can handle scoring for stretches, but neither gives the team the same size and shot creation on the wing.
Forward Nicolas Batum, who spent most of his final six seasons with the Clippers, also announced his retirement this week.
The good news is that Windhorst did not report a setback, and the original timeline always had Ingram ready for camp.
Still, the Clippers have to be careful, because a cautious start in October would be much better than losing Ingram for a longer stretch in the winter, and media day should finally give fans a clear answer on where his heel stands.
