From Rookie to Leader
Last year Brandon Ingram was the newest rookie for the Lakers. Moreover, he was the future of the team with Kobe Bryant gone. Although he drew comparisons to Kevin Durant and was drafted number two overall, Ingram struggled significantly during his first year.
At this exact time last year, Ingram only had eight double-digit scoring efforts. Additionally, he had yet to reach the 20-point mark. The rookie was also struggling with his shot as he shot below 50 percent for 25 of his 36 games played. As his year came to a close, the rook finished with averages of 9.4 points, four rebounds, and 2.1 assists with a shooting line of 40.2/29.4/62.1.
Now, exactly a year later, BI has become the primary leader for the team. Through 32 games this season, Ingram has scored in double-digits for 27 games. Moreover, he has scored 20 or more points seven times and has even broken the 30-point mark. The leader is now averaging 16.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists with a shooting line of 44.5/32.7/66.1 and looks like one of the frontrunners for the Most Improved Player of the Year award.
Last night Ingram looked to lead his team once again as he finished with 18 points, three assists, one steal, and one block. Though he did not lead the team in any categories, Ingram was a constant presence on the floor as he filled up every stat across the board.