Los Angeles Lakers: Brandon Ingram wants to be their closer
Los Angeles Lakers small forward Brandon Ingram wants to develop into the team’s closer, and head coach Luke Walton believes he is capable of it.
The Los Angeles Lakers have quite the nucleus of young players on their roster. Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka are hoping this new group of youngsters can recreate the success of the Showtime Lakers. If they are going to accomplish that, one player the organization is counting on is Brandon Ingram.
Ingram was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft out of Duke. Ingram has immense potential and a high ceiling. You wouldn’t know that from watching most of his rookie year tape.
Ingram struggled mightily. His slight frame and awkward jump shot made it difficult for him to find success offensively. Add to the fact the Lakers were attempting to have him be their backup point guard, and you can understand how overwhelmed a 19-year old could be.
While things started slowly for Ingram, he did improve as the season went on. After the All-Star break, Ingram improved his scoring average. The late-season surge helped land him on the All-Rookie Second Team.
Los Angeles Lakers
It gave a glimpse of what could be for Ingram. He worked hard this offseason to build off that success. He received praise for the improvements he made to his jump shot. His diet was revamped to help improve his body for his second NBA season. Tireless work was put in at the gym to improve his overall game.
He has once again shown glimpses of those improvements. Ingram has had some great games this season, but also a few duds as well. He alternated good and bad games thus far this season, showing that consistency is the next step for his improvement.
While he has had some duds, Ingram’s game looks improved. The Lakers are hoping he can become a go-to option for the team. They are confident in his abilities, and he is as well. What could be next for him? How about becoming the team’s closer.
Every good team has a closer. Someone they can go to at the end of the game when they need a basket. For years, the Lakers have Kobe Bryant filling that void. With Bryant gone, the Lakers are in need of a new one, and Ingram could be that person.
"“He definitely has the ability and confidence to make those kind of plays,” Lakers coach Luke Walton said of Ingram. “He definitely wants it. One hundred percent he wants it. Some people, they say they want it. But in their eyes you can tell they’re just saying it because they’re supposed to say it.“Brandon, he truly wants those types of moments.”"
We have already seen Ingram thrive in these types of moments this season. Against the Washington Wizards, Ingram stepped up in the second half, scoring 15 of his 19 points in the second half.
Included in that 19 points was the game-tying basket that forced overtime. Ingram drove to the basket, missed his first attempt and then tipped in his own miss.
It was the type of play that a closer would make. With the game on the line and his team in need of a boost, Ingram provided it.
It is something the Lakers hope to see more of as the season goes on. It is also something Ingram believes he can provide more of in the future.
"“I hope to be,” Ingram, in only his second season in the NBA, said when asked if he believed he could one day become the team’s closer. “Every single day I’m working on shots to put myself in that situation.”"
It is a situation the Lakers will undoubtedly find themselves in plenty of times this season. They have a veteran in Brook Lopez that can get some baskets, but it is a role they would definitely like Ingram to grow into.
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Ingram is a confident player and it sounds like it is a role that he wants to take over as well.