Los Angeles Lakers second-year forward Brandon Ingram has always been known as the shy, skinny, and quiet kid. Coming out of Duke, those words followed him, even after he was selected second overall by the Lakers in the 2016 NBA Draft.
However, entering his second season with the Purple and Gold, the 20-year-old is now showing that he's no longer the same player he was a year ago. And his new rookie teammate Lonzo Ball can attest to that.
Ball, who worked out with Ingram, told Kurt Helin of NBC Sports that he was surprised the North Carolina native wasn't as quiet as most made him out to be. In fact, it was the total opposite.
“Brandon’s in the gym every day and works extremely hard,” Ball told NBCSports.com. “I didn’t know he’s as vocal as he is. He definitely talks a lot. Speaking for myself, I definitely appreciate it, everything he does for the team. Like I said he’s in there every day so we’re just getting to know each other more and more as the days go on and I look forward to playing with him this year.”
In a recent blog on BiPro USA, Ingram said he's “trying to be a leader by example as well as vocally,” so it seems the work he is doing isn't going to waste.
This should also come as good news for LA, especially after Magic Johnson said that what he needs from the team is a leader.
Ingram has been improving physically, even growing by an inch or two, but his growth as a vocal leader in the locker room is definitely as important for the Lakers.
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