LOS ANGELES — The LA Clippers have struggled to hold down the fort as they deal with absences to some key rotational players. One, however, is set to return to the lineup in short order.
Brandon Ingram is nearing a return to the Clippers lineup from nearly six months of rehab due after he underwent surgery in May to address a bone spur in his heel and a partially torn Achilles tendon.
“I'm pretty close” Ingram told reporters at a practice this past weekend. “I've been on the floor a little bit. More than I have been in the past. Of course, I didn't have the summer to do five-on-five at all. Moving also. So, you know, I'm gaining that confidence right now.”
Kobe Sanders hyped up Brandon Ingram in the background of his interview at Clippers practice.
Sanders: “Uh oh! Uh-oh! That means he's coming back soon?”
Brandon Ingram then adds: “I'm coming back soon, for sure. I've been on the floor with the rest of the guys, doing some… pic.twitter.com/cGAR0qRyA3
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) November 6, 2026
After being a very limited participant throughout Clippers training camp, Ingram has progressed over the last few weeks to the point where he's playing three-on-three and five-on-five will full contact. There are still a few hurdles he has to get over, and that will come with more practice time and full-contact runs.
“I feel good,” Ingram added. “I've been on the floor with the rest of the guys. Doing some three-on-three and five-on-five a little bit. So my body is feeling good. My heel is feeling better. So we're getting closer.
“No target date, but whenever I feel ready. Still got to do some more five-on-five and get comfortable on the floor. And be comfortable jumping and doing the stuff that I do normally on the floor. So it's going to take a little time, but I'll be ready soon.”
The Clippers started the regular season with a win over the Sacramento Kings on opening night before losing seven consecutive games and tumbling down the standings as they failed to close teams out in fourth quarters. While the Clippers start strong as evidenced by their in first quarter net rating (+6.2) — good for 10th in the NBA — they also 18th in 2nd quarter net rating (-3.8), 21st in 3rd quarter net rating (-5.9), 25th in fourth quarter net rating (-10.9).
The hope is that players won't be as worn down or asked to do nearly as much once Brandon Ingram and Yanic Konan Niederhasuer return.
“I actually want to commend those guys because everybody is in new positions and asked to do more,” Ingram explained. “So the guys are trying. They're playing really, really good defense and trying to figure it out on the offensive end. Just when I come in, I want to play-make and make it a little bit easier for guys to catch and shoot and not make so many decisions. And be able to, when it gets down to it, be able to score.”
Article Continues Below“I just [want to] add what I do well. Come in and try to lead. I'm not the only guy, you know, Max came back and had a big impact on the team. He's made the team better. Yanic is coming back soon. We've got some guys coming back soon. So, you know, as a full team, I think we'll mesh well and we'll be a little better than we have been. But, you know, these games that we've lost, we've been right in the game. Just fix a few mistakes and we can win over here.”
Last year with the Toronto Raptors, Ingram averaged 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists while shooting 47.7 percent from the field and 38.2 percent from three. In theory, he should be able to bring immediate relief from a scoring and playmaking standpoint to the guys who have been tasked with doing that the most: Darius Garland and Rui Hachimura.
“When BI and Yanic get back, I don't think I'll be getting doubled as much,” Garland said after Sunday night's win. “And I think that's a respect thing, but I probably won't get doubled as much.”
The NBA season doesn't stop, as the Clippers will take on the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night before returning home for an NBA Cup showdown against Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night. LA is scheduled to have a practice day available to them on Thursday, which could be the final tune-up practice Brandon Ingram needs before he's cleared to return to the Clippers lineup.