The Los Angeles Lakers made the expected decision when they selected Duke forward Brandon Ingram with the second overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. Blessed with an insanely long wingspan and versatile skill set, the thought was that Ingram would be a perfect fit on the Lakers’ young, developing roster.
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The transition to the NBA hasn’t been an easy one for the 19-year-old, who is notoriously thin and can get bullied on the court. However, he has been able to fill a variety of roles for the Lakers this season, even playing backup point guard when head coach Luke Walton determined that Ingram is at his best with the ball in his hands.
With starting point guard D’Angelo Russell out against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the rookie took on ball-handling responsibilities and put forth arguably his best performance of the season. Walton had high praise for him after the game, via Lakers Nation reporter Serena Winters:
Luke Walton on Brandon Ingram (9 points, 10 rebs, 9 assists): "That's the best, I think & most confident he’s looked all season." (on SPSN)
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) December 18, 2016
Against the Cavs, who are the prohibitive favorite to represent the Eastern Conference in the Finals again this season, Ingram almost became the youngest player in league history to record a triple-double with nine points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists. He has struggled with his shot, which was considered to be a strength coming out of college, but Walton expressed confidence in Ingram’s ability to score:
Luke said Brandon Ingram is "such a better shooter than his shooting percentage shows," (34.5%) & has a ton of confidence (on @SpectrumSN)
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) December 18, 2016
The key for Ingram, of course, is to stay aggressive and continue developing. He will make mistakes, but in the long run, his game will be better for it. At such a young age, Ingram can’t be expected to come in and dominate, but he is still managing to make an impact in the present while flashing serious potential for the future.