Following his workout with the Los Angeles Lakers, Grayson Allen commented on the improved physique of his former Duke teammate, Brandon Ingram.
When the Los Angeles Lakers selected Brandon Ingram with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, they knew they had somewhat of a project on their hands. Ingram had immense talent, but his body was not ready for the NBA.
Ingram is listed at 6’9″ but weighs only 190 pounds. The lack of size and strength was evident in his rookie season. Ingram struggled with the physicality of the NBA, struggling to adjust to the level of play after a strong freshman season at Duke.
Ingram made strides over the second half of his rookie season. Overall, however, his numbers weren’t great as he averaged 9.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists. He made only 40.2 percent of his shots, making 29.4 percent from the 3-point line and 62.1 percent from the foul line.
Looking to improve upon those numbers Ingram put in a ton of work last season. He revamped his diet and reshaped his body. The results were evident, as Ingram took a big step forward in his second season.
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Ingram improved his stats across the board. He emitted more confidence and it showed in his stats. Ingram averaged 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. His efficiency improved as well, as he made 47 percent from the field, 39 percent from distance and 68.1 percent from the foul line.
Ingram will once again look to improve upon those numbers with another strong offseason. The work that Ingram has put in has been evident, as an old college teammate has even taken notice.
Duke guard Grayson Allen recently worked out for the Lakers. Allen had a checkered tenure at Duke, as some people probably know him more for his tripping incidents than his basketball prowess.
Allen is a gifted shooter, knocking down 38 percent of his 3-point attempts. He is a borderline first-round prospect and someone the Lakers could have their eyes on in the draft in June.
Following his workout, Allen commented on his former Duke teammate. He said he noticed the improvement that Ingram has made to his physique from his days in Durham.
"“I told him he looks bigger, put some weight on, his shoulders are broader. He looks like he’s not getting pushed around anymore. Obviously, he’s come a long way. When he came into Duke he was super skinny. He looks like he’s put some good weight on. He looks pretty big.”"
Ingram has definitely improved his body since he joined the Lakers. He has taken the necessary steps thus far to reach his high ceiling. However, it will take more than one or two offseasons for Ingram to reach his full potential.
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We have seen a lot of the young Lakers already back in the gym working on their games this offseason. That is the type of dedication and commitment that the Lakers need if they want to get out of their rebuild and get back into the postseason.