‘Who wants to be there?’ – Shannon Sharpe’s passionate defence of star who gave up $40 million to make NBA switch
Days after being traded, new Toronto Raptors player Brandon Ingram has agreed to a three-year, $120 million contract extension.
Ingram arrived in Toronto during a frantic NBA trade deadline, but his future looks to be secured with the Raptors.
The 27-year-old turned down a four-year, $160 million deal from the New Orleans Pelicans' contract offer, leaving some to wonder why he chose to turn down more cash.
New Orleans had been desperate to re-sign the player as he entered the last year of his maximum rookie extension and was set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
The Pelicans made their final attempt to keep Ingram when they offered a four-year, $160 million to the forward but he declined it and so was traded, according to .
In return for Ingram, the Pels picked up Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk, one first-round pick and one second-rounder.
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Now Ingram's new $30 million a year deal with Toronto means he will earn $10 million less a year than he would have with the Pelicans and $20 million less a year than the initial deal he in December.
Something, former NFL star and now popular media personality, Shanon Sharpe has lauded Ingram for after he faced criticism for turning away the extra $40 million.
Sharpe's 'Nightcap' co-host Chad Ochocinco Johnson was left bewildered by the star's decision to go to Toronto for less money.
"I don't know in what world where it's that bad, we leave $40 million on the table and choose to go somewhere else," Johnson said on the most recent episode of the ,
"I just left New Orleans for six, seven days straight. You even tell me based on what I saw in that wonderful city, culture, the people, the food, the architecture, the history, you ain't playing basketball."
Sharpe quickly answered Johnson's question, saying, "Because he wants to win," reaffirming the ESPN report that Ingram left the Pelicans for non-financial reasons.
The NFL Hall of Famer further defended Ingram by referring to other stars who had left New Orleans in pursuit of winning and even suggested Zion Williamson does not want to be at the Pelicans.
"Who wants to be there? You see Zion. You think Zion want to be in New Orleans?" Sharpe added.
"I mean, hold on. Did Anthony Davis want to be in New Orleans? So I'm just trying to figure out the players that they've had that wanted to be there. Yet you say you can't understand why?"
Since Ingram joined the Pelicans in 2019, after being traded for Davis with the Los Angeles Lakers, the team have only made the playoffs twice.
Last year's post-season ended in the first round after being swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder, following a win over Sacramento in the Play-In tournament.
The Pelicans have also seen fellow star Williamson struggle to stay fit, something that has hindered any momentum being built during Ingram's time with the team.
Ingram leaves the Pelicans after six successful individual seasons that featured one All-Star vote, the NBA's Most Improved Player in 2020 and averaging more than 20 points - but significantly only two playoff runs