Brandon Ingram’s Strengths
The lanky, wiry Ingram may very well be the Lakers’ most polished offensive player. Albeit Kyle Kuzma can score in more ways than his teammate, B.I. is a better playmaker than Kuzma.
Ingram got to showcase his playmaking abilities when Lonzo Ball was sidelined with an MCL sprain. While Ball was out, Ingram went into a different mode for Los Angeles. The latter knew that his team needed a boost, and he did not disappoint.
Sure, Ingram is not an elite passer. However, he proved in 2017-2018 that he is more than willing to make unselfish decisions. The young man truly stepped up this year when L.A. lacked a quarterback.
This not only reveals his versatility but growth as a leader. Ingram may be a rather young player still, but succeeding in a new role is something management and coaches do not ignore. When players get hurt, too, it is crucial for others to contribute. B.I. certainly did that.
Let alone as a passer, he contributed in a big way with his scoring. His spike in scoring resulted mainly from his unwavering willingness to attack the rim. This, for one, led to more free-throw attempts (282 versus 214 last year).
In doing so, Ingram’s shooting percentage likewise went up. After shooting just 40 percent last season, he shot 47 percent from the field this time around.
No. 14 also showcased that he can knock down the long ball. As a rookie, he only made a little over 29 percent of his looks from that distance. In his second campaign, that tally increased by 10 percent.
Defensively, he continued to be solid as he was as a rookie. His length and athleticism are a perfect combination when it comes to getting stops. When he gets his hands up, the opposition is literally dealing with a handful (pun intended).
Lakers.com reporter Joey Ramirez shared numbers that validate the youngster’s defensive prowess.
"He also improved on the defensive end, using his 7-foot-3 wingspan to contest the NBA’s sixth-most 3-point attempts per game (4.2), while opponents shot 3.5 percent below their season average when defended by him."
Thanks to his long frame, he demonstrated his ability to not only alter shots but affect passing lanes. He became more adept at reading certain sequences as the year progressed, so one can assume Ingram will only get better in this respect.
One more plus from Ingram continues to be his demeanor. His quietness may be a turnoff for some, but it exhibits that he is unfazed by the high expectations Hollywood brings. In conjunction with this, it shows that his sole priority is basketball.
With all of that out there, Ingram has some work to do over the course of the summer. A whole 20 years of age, he is still a raw talent, carrying a ton of upside.