Brandon Ingram is one of the most highly coveted players in this year’s NBA Draft after an impressive freshman year at Duke University and the Los Angeles Lakers are in prime position to land him with the number two overall pick. The Lakers will likely choose either Ingram or Louisiana State University standout, Ben Simmons; depending on which player the Philadelphia 76ers select with the No. 1 pick.
Ingram has been featured by the Players’ Tribune in their short documentary style clips titled “Draft Days.” In the first episode, Ingram spoke about how difficult it was for him to leave Duke to declare for the NBA Draft. In this episode, Ingram is shown lifting weights as he tries to add mass to his thin frame prior to his rookie season.
One of the biggest criticisms of Ingram is that he is too skinny and weak for the NBA, but Ingram has been in the gym every day trying to add some mass to his skinny frame. Ingram says that he is already treating his NBA career as a job and he claims that he is much stronger than people think he is.
“I think I’m way stronger than people think I am.” Ingram says in the clip, “I feel like I have something to prove every day.”
Ingram will be a great fit for whichever team that decides to draft him on June 23rd, and the Lakers would benefit from drafting a player of his caliber and work ethic. He also offers the benefit of slotting in nicely to the starting small forward spot, which was vacated by Kobe Bryant when he retired. The Lakers brass will be busy and diligent in their investigation of draft prospects, but it seems like Ingram would be a perfect match with their current roster, should he be available when it is the Lakers turn to pick.