Brandon Ingram Traded Again: Kinston Native Returns to Los Angeles in Blockbuster Deal

Brandon Ingram is heading back to where his NBA career began.

The Kinston native and former Kinston High School standout was traded from the Toronto Raptors to the Los Angeles Clippers in one of the biggest moves of the NBA offseason. The Clippers acquired Ingram, guard Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, a first-round pick swap and two second-round picks in exchange for former NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard.

The blockbuster deal gives the Clippers another proven scorer while sending Leonard back to Toronto, where he famously led the Raptors to their only NBA championship in 2019.

For Ingram, the trade marks the fourth franchise of his NBA career and his third trade in seven years.

Despite Toronto acquiring him just over a year ago and signing him to a three-year contract extension, the Raptors jumped at the opportunity to reunite with Leonard.

Ingram rewarded Toronto with one of the healthiest and most productive seasons of his career during the 2025-26 campaign. He appeared in 77 games — his highest total since his rookie season — earning his second NBA All-Star selection while averaging 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. He also shot 47.7 percent from the field and 38.2 percent from three-point range.

Now, the 6-foot-8 forward returns to Southern California, where he spent the first three seasons of his NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers before being traded in the Anthony Davis blockbuster in 2019.

The move also gives Ingram another opportunity to compete for a championship with a veteran Clippers roster.

While the trade adds another chapter to his professional career, Ingram's story began hundreds of miles away in eastern North Carolina.

Born and raised in Kinston, Ingram quickly became one of the greatest high school basketball players the state has ever produced.

He helped lead Kinston High School to four consecutive NCHSAA state championships from 2012-15, becoming the first boys basketball player in North Carolina history to win four straight state titles. During his senior season, he averaged 24.3 points and 10.4 rebounds while earning North Carolina Mr. Basketball honors, Parade All-American recognition and a spot in the McDonald's All-American Game.

As one of the nation's top recruits, Ingram chose Duke over numerous scholarship offers and immediately made an impact in Durham.

During his lone season with the Blue Devils, he averaged 17.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists while earning ACC Rookie of the Year honors. Duke advanced to the Sweet 16 before Ingram declared for the 2016 NBA Draft.

The Los Angeles Lakers selected him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, making him one of the highest-drafted players in North Carolina history.

After three seasons with the Lakers, Ingram became part of one of the biggest trades in NBA history.

In July 2019, Los Angeles sent Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, draft rights to De'Andre Hunter, two future first-round picks and additional assets to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for superstar Anthony Davis.

The move changed the trajectory of his career.

In his first season with New Orleans, Ingram blossomed into an NBA All-Star and captured the NBA's Most Improved Player Award after averaging 23.8 points per game. Over six seasons with the Pelicans, he established himself as one of the league's premier wing scorers, averaging more than 20 points per game in every healthy season while helping New Orleans return to the playoffs.

In February 2025, the Pelicans traded Ingram to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk, a first-round pick and a second-round pick. Although injuries delayed his debut, he bounced back with an All-Star campaign in 2025-26 before Toronto elected to make another franchise-altering move by acquiring Leonard.

Now, another opportunity awaits.

Returning to Los Angeles gives Ingram a familiar setting and another chance to compete on one of the NBA's biggest stages. Still just 28 years old, the former Kinston Viking has now played for four NBA franchises, earned two All-Star selections, won the NBA Most Improved Player Award and has averaged nearly 20 points per game across a decade-long career.

From leading Kinston High School to four state championships, to starring at Duke, to becoming the No. 2 overall pick and an NBA All-Star, Ingram has become one of eastern North Carolina's greatest basketball success stories.

His latest stop simply brings him back to where his NBA journey first began.