Throughout the entire draft process, and ever since he was chosen by the Los Angeles Lakers second overall, the main question surrounding Brandon Ingram has been about him putting on weight.
Ingram was reportedly around 190 pounds at the time of the draft but spoke about how he was constantly eating to put on more weight and muscle to deal with the physicality of the NBA.
Many people, however, believe that putting on a lot of weight quickly is a dangerous proposition. Famed trainer Tim Grover, who has worked with the likes of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, says believes that quick weight gain can increase the risk of injury, via ESPN’s Baxter Holmes:
“There’s a lot of added pressure on your knees, on your hips, all that other stuff,” Grover says, “because you’re not accustomed to playing with all that weight.”
In his piece, Holmes speaks with numerous trainers and nutritionists who all seem to agree that a quick weight gain could potentially do more harm than good.
Ingram himself appears to have realized this as well as he told Holmes that he is no longer eating 5,000 calories a day and has changed his original weight gain goals:
No longer does he consume 5,000 calories every 24 hours. “I tried before, but I just eat what I can during the day,” he says. “Whenever my reminder comes up, if I’m not hungry, I still try to eat a little something just to get through the day.” And no longer does he aim to weigh 210 by the fall. “I actually don’t have a goal right now,” Ingram says. He preaches patience. He tells himself the weight will come. “I know we have good trainers,” he says. “I’ll just listen to them.”
Weight may be a concern for many when it comes to Ingram, but he seems to have the right idea on how to go about fixing that issue. It should be noted that players like Michael Jordan and Kevin Durant both went the gradual route and were better off for it.
Ingram is still extremely skilled and is still growing physically. Over time he will add the strength necessary to last in the NBA, but it is important not to rush it.
