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Brandon Ingram has quickly taken ownership of his role as a vital starter for the New Orleans Pelicans, now also garnering consideration for the Most Improved Player award. The fourth-year wing is averaging a strong 25.9 points per game, a hefty increase from last season's averages, and partly due to parting ways with LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers as teammate Josh Hart points out.
Ingram was heading in an upward trajectory before James became the focal point of the Lakers' offense, stunting his growth as a playmaking wing and miring him as a play-finishing support player. Now featured as a key scorer for the young Pelicans, Ingram is seeing a bevy of scoring opportunities and thriving under his new role — something Hart has seen in his transition.
“He was put on the back burner by media,” Hart told Joe Vardon of The Athletic. “It’s so funny. Fast forward a half year later, everyone loves him. ‘Oh, most improved player, he’s this, he’s that, he’s that.’ That shit never changed. His opportunity, his role has increased. Obviously playing with a great player like LeBron, who’s ball dominant, you have to play through him. That’s Brandon’s game, but he does it the right way.
“I think this trade and this move for him here is the best thing ever for him.”
The Pelicans are allowing Ingram to do what he does best, no longer restricted by having a star player taking away his opportunities. Ingram had flourished due to the freedom in Luke Walton's system during his first two seasons but was forced to take a step back after playing second-fiddle to James.
It seems Ingram is plenty ready to pick up right where he left off, now grabbing the season by the horns and making the most of his role next to Hart and the Pelicans.
