Former NBA star calls out Toronto Raptors' Brandon Ingram

Paul Pierce did not hold back when discussing Brandon Ingram's Game 1 comments following the Toronto Raptors' 126-113 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Ingram shot lights-out for Toronto in the first half, scoring 17 points on five-of-eight field goal attempts, but he immediately cooled after halftime. He did not make a single basket in the second half and attempted only one shot.

When reporters asked Ingram about his second half, he responded that Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković wanted to use him off-ball on screens -- a move that did not work.

"We need to figure out ways where I can still be effective while they're doing whatever defence," Ingram told reporters. "At the end of the day, me shooting nine shots is not going to win [us] basketball games."

On the most recent episode of the No Fouls Given podcast, featuring Pierce alongside former Raptors guard Danny Green, the Boston Celtics legend questioned Ingram's leadership after his quiet second half.

Paul Pierce, Tony Allen, and Danny Green went OFF after listening to Brandon Ingram’s postgame comments. 😳

PP: “For him to go to the press conference and say coaches made me a screener, or me getting 9 shots, that has nothing to do with coaches[…] you a number one (option),… https://t.co/cOJbzIiPPp pic.twitter.com/KksYHeqLGf — Omer Osman (@OmerOsman200) April 20, 2026

"For him to go to the press conference and say coaches made me a screener, or I'm only getting nine shots, that has nothing to do with coaches. You a number one (option), you are an All-Star — that’s not their fault," Pierce said of Ingram's post-game comments.

"Is Brandon Ingram 'the guy' on this team? Is he 'the guy?'" Pierce continued. "Get the rebound and bring it up and do something with it. Say something in the timeout!"

Green agreed with Pierce's comments, saying he wasn't a fan of the press conference.

"If the series is over, then you can say some things that you saw that happened. But after Game 1 — that’s not a good sign."

Brandon Ingram on only taking 1 shot in the second half: "Well, coach wanted to use me as a screener. Also he noticed that my man wasn't coming off me so he wanted me outside of the action and being a receiver. At the end of the day, me shooting 9 shots is not going to win… pic.twitter.com/m4Sk0RDSEt

— William Lou (@william_lou) April 18, 2026

Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković took some responsibility following Sunday's game for not getting his All-Star forward more involved in the second half.

Nobody guarded Ingram more in Game 1 than Cavaliers forward Dean Wade. According to NBA.com matchup data, Ingram scored just two of his 17 points when defended by Wade.

The Cavaliers outscored Toronto 65-59 in the second half, and Ingram put up one attempt and failed to record a single point.

For the Raptors to have a chance in Game 2 on Monday, Ingram will need to find ways to stay involved offensively.

He and Rajaković were spotted reviewing film during Sunday's practice, which suggests to many Raptors fans that adjustments may be coming.