Lakers Summer League: Breaking Down Brandon Ingram’s Performance
![July 5, 2016; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers draft picks Brandon Ingram and Ivica Zubac pose with vice president of basketball operation Jim Buss following their introductory press conference at Toyota Sports Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports July 5, 2016; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers draft picks Brandon Ingram and Ivica Zubac pose with vice president of basketball operation Jim Buss following their introductory press conference at Toyota Sports Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Flakeshowlife-com-2Ffiles-2F2016-2F07-2Fbrandon-ingram-jim-buss-nba-los-angeles-lakers-press-conference-850x560-0657f21d99fe818bb245c8fae632fcce.jpg)
Weaknesses: Frail Frame
As a result of his frail frame, Ingram often had trouble creating separation and absorbing contact when driving toward the rim. In this play agains the Philadelphia 76ers, Ingram struggles to withstand much contact and consequently forces up a wild shot that is eventually swatted out of bounds:
Though coaches and team executives have praised the youngster for not being afraid of contact, it would be best for him to get some easier looks on the perimeter to begin his career.
Indeed, on several occasions Ingram had to revert to taking tough, contested shots that his body may not be ready for at this stage of his physical development. Though he is an elite perimeter isolation scorer at his age, the youngster had a bit of trouble dealing with contact when going to the rim.
Here, Ingram is fed the ball on the perimeter and funneled to the rim with little time left on the shot clock. Though he valiantly shows no fear of heading to the hole, the Lakers should try to get Ingram involved in easier ways as the result was less than ideal:
Overall, Ingram is a well-rounded player who showed people why he was drafted with the second overall pick during his time in Las Vegas. Again, it’d be inane to make much of Ingram’s first real time going up against professional competition, especially in the Summer League. But of what we’ve seen thus far into his young career, he appears to be headed on the right track provided he continues to work hard and put on the weight.