Los Angeles Lakers forward Brandon Ingram took major steps in his development in his second season in the league, raising his numbers drastically across the board and looking very much like a young player who could turn into a superstar in the future.
The excitement surrounding Ingram’s future is high and it doesn’t just apply to him. The future of the entire team is bright and Ingram sees what this team can become.
“Me and Kuz have talked about it before. He talks about it the most. We know what we have in the room every time that we step on the basketball floor,” Ingram said during his exit interview. “It’s amazing to see the young talent we brought in, but also they have a really good work ethic. They come in and they put in the work. It’s really good to see.”
If the Lakers are to take that next step and become a playoff contender, much of that pressure will fall on Ingram to continue to develop into a star. “I think I have the confidence to do that,” he said.
“I live in the moment for the player I am now, but I always look down the line to see how much better I can be.”
And what is it that Ingram sees when he looks down the line? “A two-way player, a guy that can do everything on the basketball floor,” he said.
“Whether it’s on the defensive end, getting deflections, getting steals, blocking shots, rebounding the basketball. On the offensive end, it’s shooting beyond the three, having an in-between a game, get to the basket, a guy that lives on the free throw line. Just different ways to manipulate the game.”
This summer will be crucial to that development. Ingram already made one massive leap and if he were to do something similar this offseason, the Lakers will have a potential All-Star on their hands. And Ingram understands where he needs to improve to make that leap.
“How I can be consistent. Being the same guy night in and night out. Knowing what move I’m going to go to,” he said. “On the defensive end, how I can cause havoc. Just having the effort and energy every single night.”
First and foremost for Ingram, he will have to be able to stay on the floor as he played in only 59 games this season. But assuming better health, and the known work ethic he has displayed in his first two seasons, Ingram will do everything possible to be much-improved next season.
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