Lakers Draft Prospects: 5 Reasons The Lakers Should Draft Brandon Ingram

5. Defensive Potential

Brandon Ingram is a unique player. He does not have an NBA-ready body as of now, nor did he have a college-ready body during his lone season at Duke. Weighing a modest 190 pounds, Ingram will have to make strides as an athlete in order to have a chance at reaching his potential in the NBA.

More from Lake Show Life

• Darvin Ham adds to Max Christie hype train after Lakers preseason opener
• Is LeBron James playing tonight? Latest Lakers vs Warriors update
• Can Darvin Ham put all of the Lakers puzzle pieces together?
• Lakers news: Darvin Ham knows his fifth starter, LeBron James and Rui Hachimura, Jalen Hood-Schifino praise
• Michael Malone’s painfully ironic comment has Lakers fans heated

However, the sweet-shooting 18 year old still managed to average an impressive 17.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Indeed, in spite of his physical limitations, Ingram showed potential on both ends – particularly as a long, athletic defender.

In this clip below, Ingram displays excellent perimeter defending skills, locking up the opposition’s point guard despite being a small forward himself.

This skill set will serve him well in the NBA, a league in which he will be sure to be switched on to smaller and possibly quicker players following pick and rolls.

Similarly, Ingram showed off his long arms and his 7’3 wingspan near the rim, where he often blocked shots even from difficult angles.

Ingram also proved to be a very capable help defender, often making up for some of his defensive miscues by virtue of his aforementioned length and wingspan.

This will prove to be an invaluable trait to his teammates if he ends up playing behind the likes of Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson and D’Angelo Russell.

Next: Ability To Create Off The Dribble