While small forward Brandon Ingram was not the Los Angeles Lakers’ number one option last season, he will be depended on to make that next step once the fall approaches.
Over the course of the summer, the Los Angeles Lakers added a few new faces. The most talked about one up to this stage has undoubtedly been point guard Lonzo Ball. The hype surrounding Ball will not decrease anytime soon due to his success in Las Vegas.
In spite of the additions, there is another player that has quite a staggering amount of eyes on him right now. This particular player is 6’9” small forward Brandon Ingram.
Ingram’s rookie season was a tale of two halves. In the earlier stages of the year, he showed a great deal of reticence with the ball in his hands.
It is fair to cut the young man some slack, though. John Kachnowski of isportsweb addresses the primary reasons as to why Ingram deserves a break.
"Ingram is a raw prospect due to his lack of a muscular build. Given the fact that Ingram was a mere 19-years old entering the league, he gets a pass in these shortcomings as physical tools are something that NBA trainers can mold out of most players."
Despite the lack of strength, Ingram started to be aggressive once he got used to the pace of the NBA. The increased aggression led to a spike in scoring and general confidence.
The second-year ballplayer put this boost of confidence on display this summer as well. Although he only participated in the Lakers’ opener, the Duke product lit up the box score with an impressive 26 points.
With the summer getting closer and closer to ending, Ingram has been lighting it up in the gym. Consequently, he should be much more prepared headed into the fall than he was last year.
In an article by Ryan Ward of ClutchPoints, Ingram discussed a crucial portion of his workout routine.
"I’m making sure everything I do in the weight room translates to the court, whatever makes my body more explosive. Weighted step-ups are great because they simulate jumping off of one foot, which I do in games all the time."
While nothing is guaranteed, exercises such as those should lead to greater output. A lift in explosiveness will only make it easier for Ingram to score near the rim. Additionally, better explosiveness will make the young Laker a bigger threat on defense.
Los Angeles Lakers
The latter is especially key since L.A. has struggled heavily on defense for several consecutive seasons. Therefore, if Ingram’s efforts in the gym are sustained, the odds of him becoming a defensive specialist will go up.
It is not to say that Ingram does not have a lot to learn, still. Even though he is clearly making progress, maintaining a no-nonsense attitude over a full season will be the next test for him.
Much of that boils down to mentality above all else. In the earlier chunks of his rookie campaign, Ingram seemed to be too content at times.
With that in mind, Ingram’s challenging, rigorous summer curriculum suggests that he is ready to make his mark in the NBA. Team executives expect nothing less.
Team President Magic Johnson is one such supporter and appreciates everything the small forward is doing in the offseason. Mark Medina of The Orange County Register included a snippet from Magic regarding Ingram in a recent piece.
"The guy only cares about winning and basketball. He’s quiet and doesn’t do anything else. He is a very intelligent young man and is our hardest worker."
Such high compliments for such a young player will only make fans expect more from the teenager. However, for the time being, to know that Ingram is thought of to such a degree is encouraging.
Certainly, it explains why he was considered the team’s only untradeable asset several months ago. Matters like work ethic may seem trivial to some folks. In spite of that, his habits carry the potential to generate a chain reaction.
Albeit this specific Laker is indeed quiet, such patterns demonstrate leadership. The Lakers have not had a bona fide leader since all-time great Kobe Bryant retired.
Similarly, the Lakers have not had a closer since Bryant called it a career. While that is true, GM Rob Pelinka thinks Ingram could be the next guy in line based on what Lakers Nation writer Daniel Starkland reports.
"He’s gonna be our end of the game playmaker. He’s gonna have to step up and make big plays on both sides of the ball […] Because of Brandon’s versatility, Luke Walton will play him at the 1, the 2, the 3 and really call on him night in, night out to make those big plays in key moments."
Such a standard may seem lofty for a sophomore. It reveals the belief the whole staff has in Brandon, though.
On that note, that it itself exhibits the biggest stride the lanky lad will need to take this fall.
By believing in himself, the Lakers will be that much closer to returning to their former glory.
Next: Brandon Ingram vs Giannis Antetokounmpo Rookie Season
Brandon Ingram is not going to transform from a so-so rookie to an All-Star instantly. However, the Los Angeles Lakers’ youngster will definitely be relied on to elevate his game in 2017-2018. The refreshing part is that all he has been doing indicates improvement is lurking.