What can we expect from Ingram in his rookie season?
After a decent showing at Summer League, Brandon Ingram has the chance to surprise people as a rookie.
News broke that the No. 2 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, Brandon Ingram, will start on the bench this season and everyone just lost their minds.
Much of this has to do with the fear that Luke Walton is going to be Byron Scott reincarnate and stall Ingram’s development, but I assure you things are much different this time around.
Unlike Scott, Walton has a valid reason not to play Ingram at the start of the season. According to Mark Medina of LA Daily News, Walton is doing this to protect Ingram in his rookie season.
"Despite praising rookie forward Brandon Ingram for his playmaking and versatility, Walton said “we’re not going to throw him into the starting lineup right away” out of concern how he handles a grueling 82-game schedule. “You develop the young core by rewarding them when they play well,” Walton said. “If there’s 10 games left in the season and out of the playoffs and there’s some vets that played long minutes all season, maybe you play all your young guys to finish out the season. But when you’re going through the season, you’re not doing anyone any favors just by playing young guys so they can play if they’re not out there playing the right way.”"
Not only is Ingram’s body not ready for the beat down of an 82 game season, but the Lakers also aren’t as talent deprived as they were last year.
The Lakers did a good job of bringing in high character veterans this summer, including Timofey Mozgov, José Calderón and two time All-Star Luol Deng. Deng is projected to start at small forward for the Lakers to start the season, barring a 81 point performance by Ingram.
However, this does not mean Ingram will stop working for that starting spot. In fact, Ingram is using his bench role – the first bench role of his basketball career – as motivation for the season.
Brandon Ingram on Luke Walton saying he probably won’t start him right away: “Hearing that gives me motivation to work hard.”
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) September 19, 2016
(on @TheHerd)
Ingram’s 7’3 wingspan and 6’10 height makes him a mismatch at almost every position, but his thin frame can be a problem in his rookie season. But if Ingram can adapt to the physicality of the NBA and get his shots to fall early, expect that bench role to be short lived.