When you constantly compare and tell an 18-year-old who has yet to play a single NBA game that he is the next version of one of the league's top superstar players, you should almost expect that player to be a little more than confident.

There would be no surprise to see him completely engrossed in what people say, and believe that he really is on the path to greatness.

That’s where Los Angeles Lakers rookie Brandon Ingram comes in, and he’s trying to avoid that.

Ingram spoke about the comparisons to Kevin Durant with The Vertical’s Chris Mannix:

It’s a very special comparison. But, of course, I know I'm not him. I know I'm not him yet, but I have the potential to make my own brand.

During Team USA’s basketball camp in Las Vegas, Serena Williams asked Durant about Ingram and he responded saying:

First person I can say, that I can look at him & feel like I’m looking in the mirror.

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Durant even added that the new rookie’s development is further along than he was at the same age.

Listed at  6-foot-9 and 190 pounds, Ingram possess the same skinny frame that Durant did when he debuted with the Seattle SuperSonics.

According to Mannix, Ingram is on a 5,000-calorie-a-day diet, trying to gain 20 pounds in time for the start of the NBA season.

Ingram says he looks up to Durant, and looks forward to playing against him.

You grow up with him as an idol, and in a few months he's going to become my rival.It's going to be a dream come true. I think just watching him for so long and having the ability to actually learn and play against him is just going to be a special motivation for me as a competitor and someone who really looked up to him.

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