Los Angeles Clippers forward Brandon Ingram will miss the beginning of the 2026-27 NBA season. He continues his recovery from right heel surgery and a partially torn Achilles tendon, the organization announced during media day.
Interim president of basketball operations Trent Redden addressed reporters on Monday. He revealed that doctors unexpectedly discovered and treated the Achilles tendon injury while Ingram underwent a procedure on his right heel in May. Because the issue was uncovered during that operation, the Achilles tear had not been previously disclosed to the public.
Recovery Timeline and Current Status
The Clippers prepare to kick off their regular season against the Sacramento Kings on October 21. Currently, Ingram carries no definitive timetable for his return to the court.
Redden shared an optimistic medical detail regarding the injury’s severity. He explained that recovery for a partial Achilles tear typically takes about six months less time than a full Achilles rupture.
Ingram described his rehabilitation as a week-by-week process. He has begun light individual work on the basketball court, but he will sit out the vast majority of training camp.
Context of the Trade and Recent Offseason Changes
The 29-year-old forward arrived in Los Angeles earlier this month alongside guard Gradey Dick. That blockbuster trade sent Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors.
Before the trade, Ingram missed the final two games of the Raptors’ first-round playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. That absence stemmed from the underlying heel discomfort that necessitated his May surgery.
This medical update compounds a challenging stretch for the Clippers franchise. The league office recently penalized the team for salary cap violations connected to their past dealings with Leonard.
With Ingram sidelined to begin the campaign, head coach Tyronn Lue and the front office must find alternative sources of offensive production on the wing.
