Brandon Ingram is heading to his first playoffs after six years in the NBA. Naturally, the New Orleans Pelicans star couldn't contain his emotions after finally breaking that drought.
The Pelicans took down the Los Angeles Clippers in their play-in showdown on Friday to secure the final ticket to the playoffs. Ingram played a starring role in the victory, as he finished with a game-high 30 points along with six rebounds and six assists.
In his interview postgame, Ingram reminisced the journey he had to go through in order to make it to the playoffs. He never had a winning record before, and so getting that opportunity to showcase his abilities on the NBA's biggest stage had been just a dream until their play-in upset of the Clippers.
“I've never had a winning record. I've never been in the postseason. So, I'll get my chance to showcase my talent on the biggest stage. It's beautiful,” Ingram said on NBA on TNT, via Will Guillory of The Athletic.
It's hard not to feel for Brandon Ingram here. He is one of the most talented forwards in the NBA, and so being unable to make the playoffs had to be really frustrating for him.
He spent his first three years in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers, and just when everybody thought they were heading to the playoffs with LeBron James joining them in 2018-19, injuries struck and they missed the postseason entirely. He, along with Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart and a slew of picks, were then traded to the Pelicans in exchange of Anthony Davis.
Things didn't change much for him as the Pels struggled to make it to the playoffs in the ultra-tough Western Conference. Not to mention that with Zion Williamson out of the whole 2021-22 season, there weren't much expectations for them to actually compete.
But now, here they are, heading to the postseason and facing the Phoenix Suns brimming with confidence. They have every reason to celebrate the moment, and they certainly deserve to.
Follow Us
Subscribe