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It usually takes a while for young players to settle in after being traded to a new team, but Brandon Ingram seems to be thriving now that he’s away from the bright lights of Hollywood.
Sure, the youth-laden New Orleans Pelicans are off to a dreadful 0-3 start in the 2019-20 NBA regular season, but the lanky 22-year-old’s much-improved play is certainly a step in the right direction for the rebuilding franchise.
The central piece of the blockbuster Anthony Davis mega-trade back in July, Ingram has become the focal point of coach Alvin Gentry’s exciting, fast-paced offense down in the Bayou – especially with this year’s top draft pick Zion Williamson missing some time due to a knee injury.
Ingram has shown vast improvements across the board in his first three games in a Pelicans jersey, tallying 27.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game. The Duke product’s efficiency has also skyrocketed off the charts, draining 52.5 percent of his field goals and 52.6 attempts from downtown.
Ingram showed that he is prime for a breakout year, exploding for 35 points, 15 boards, and five assists versus the Houston Rockets on Saturday, albeit in a losing effort:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsA1U99Emy0
Furthermore, the 6-foot-7 forward also looks to have found his identity on the hardwood, looking far more different than the tentative and inconsistent player who played three seasons in LA, where he averaged 13.9 points on 45.8 percent shooting from the field and 32.9 percent from 3-point territory.
Ingram also visibly carries a happier demeanor these days, going as far as calling New Orleans a “much better environment” than what he had in Los Angeles.
Fellow former Laker Josh Hart was one of the first ones to see how big of an impact the city of New Orleans has had on Ingram entering this season, noting the difference in the youngster:
“It’s been good (seeing Ingram flourish). Having new scenery, he can go out and show what he can do. He’s been doing that,” he said via The Athletic’s Sam Amick.
“He’s playing like he has a chip on his shoulder, and that’s when those kinds of guys are dangerous. Today was just a small sample of what he can do.”
Pelicans point guard Lonzo Ball, meanwhile, believes Ingram has always had it in him and it was only a matter of time before his natural talents translated in the big leagues.
“I know what he’s capable of,” Ball, who finished with 18 points, 10 assists, three steals versus the Rockets, said. “He’s very hard to guard, and he knows the right way to play.”
Even with a crop of talented youngsters at their disposal, the Pelicans will likely linger at the bottom of the stacked Western Conference this year.
Still, the Pelicans will clearly be must-see TV, especially when Williamson returns. How Zion and Brandon Ingram play off each other should be fun to watch.
