Los Angeles Lakers: Brandon Ingram earns NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors

The Los Angeles Lakers have announced that forward Brandon Ingram was named to the NBA’s All-Rookie Second Team.

After being picked second overall in the 2016 NBA Draft, Brandon Ingram of the Los Angeles Lakers was not expected to be a superstar right off the bat.

His rookie season was filled with ups-and-downs, while occasionally flashing signs of brilliance that made him worthy of being the second overall pick. His play last season earned him a spot on the NBA’s All-Rookie Second Team, announced by the Lakers.

"Los Angeles Lakers forward Brandon Ingram has been named to the NBA’s All-Rookie Second Team, it was announced today. This is the third consecutive season that a Laker has been honored with an All-Rookie team selection and Ingram is the fifth Laker in team history (Kobe Bryant and Travis Knight in 1996-97, Nick Van Exel in 1993-94 and D’Angelo Russell in 2015-16) to be awarded Second Team honors."

Ingram played in 79 games last year for the Lakers, averaging 9.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. Ingram struggled early on in the season but picked it up as the season came winding down. According to the Lakers, Ingram averaged 13.5 points in the month of March and scored double-digits in the 16 out of the last 17 games he played.

This is the third straight year a Laker has been named to an All-Rookie Team. Jordan Clarkson earned All-Rookie First Team honors for the 2014-2015 season and D’Angelo Russell earned All-Rookie Second Team honors last season

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown, Phoenix Suns forward Marquese Chriss and Dallas Mavericks guard Yogi Ferrell joins Ingram and rounds out the rest of the second team.

The All-Rookie First Team is headlined by Milwaukee Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdan, Philadelphia 76ers Dario Saric and Joel Embiid, Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield and Willy Hernangomez from the New York Knicks.

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Ingram earned 11 first team votes (counts as two points) and 61 second team votes for a total of 83 points, according to Sports Illustrated’s Ben Golliver.

With his rookie season over and no trade talks to worry about after Magic Johnson deemed him “untouchable“, Ingram should be focusing on improving his game and develop into a budding superstar for the Lakers.