New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram had a tough time blooming as a basketball player during his time with the Los Angeles Lakers, a young team that took many losses before being forced into an accelerated rebuild with LeBron James at the wheel. The Lakers struggled, and Ingram naturally lost joy after the losses started to pile up and the team tried to figure out the best way to produce some offense.

“I lost joy sometimes. I only lost my joy because I felt like I could do more on the basketball court. I felt like I could help a little bit more,” said Ingram, according to Mirin Fader of Bleacher Report. “I felt like I could have been a little more involved in the offense. I could have been used a little bit better.”

His mother Joann sensed it: “He wasn't happy there anymore.” While Ingram loved playing for the Lakers and doesn't have anything negative to say about the organization, he's grateful that he got to live his dream of playing in the NBA, to have played alongside LeBron James, among many other things he's had during his first three years in the league.

Ingram is now leading the Pelicans in scoring with 26.1 points, along with 7.2 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. His game has round up nicely after stepping away from James' shadow and getting the reins to the offense as a long and athletic scorer.

It seems the 22-year-old wing is gaining back the joy he once lost with the Lakers, now primed to be an All-Star-caliber player in his fourth NBA season.