Los Angeles Lakers: Analyzing 2017-18 Goals from start of season

5. Brandon Ingram Wins Most Improved Player of the Year

Somewhere, Kevin Pritchard and Victor Oladipo were laughing at this statement. Now seriously. Who saw Victor Oladipo breaking out this offseason? As Bleacher Report’s Howard Beck previously mentioned in The Full 48, “so-called basketball experts got it all wrong.”

Oladipo emerged out of Russell Westbrook‘s shadow to lead the Pacers to 48 wins, finishing atop of the league in steals at 2.4 SPG. Pritchard even said that he never expected Oladipo to break out. That should not detract from what Ingram was able to do this year.

After a disappointing rookie year, Ingram managed to average new career highs across the board, most specifically in efficiency and scoring (9 to 16). Ingram showed his playmaking strengths as a point forward in a LeBron James-type role when Lonzo Ball struggled to return to the court.

The ceiling for Ingram is high, especially if LeBron James or Paul George pass on Los Angeles. If no one halts Ingram, one could argue that he could be as good as Ben Simmons. I am legitimately excited for Los Angeles.

Ingram’s stardom could bring Los Angeles out of the fiery depths of hell back into the playoff picture. Will he be elite is still a question, but his potential to become a superstar is more than possible.