While much of the recent attention for the Los Angeles Lakers has been on Julius Randle and D’Angelo Russell’s recent improvement in play, but quietly rookie Brandon Ingram has turned a corner as well.
Ingram has averaged 15 points over the last three games while shooting 62.5 percent from the field. He has also been noticeably more aggressive driving to the rim and finishing through contact.
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According to Mark Medina of the LA Daily News, Ingram admitted that he feels more comfortable now:
“I’m starting to feel comfortable in finding the opening in the offense and trying to make plays for myself,” Ingram said. “I’m just seeing the game better. I’m just being more aggressive and having the ball in my hand and trying to make plays for myself. I see more openings for myself. Of course, I also see more passes from my teammates.”
Head coach Luke Walton also believes in Ingram and is committed to letting him learn from his mistakes on the court, as long as he’s playing the right way:
“There’s times we should take him out. But we need to get him that experience as long as he’s not playing the wrong way, taking bad shots, being selfish, or being lazy on defense,” Walton said. “If he’s doing any of those things, he has to come out. That’s the only thing that’s right. But if he’s trying to do what’s right and trying to make the right plays, we’re going to give him the benefit of the doubt and let him play through those mistakes.”
Ingram is starting to show why he was the second overall pick. He has already shown so many skills whether it is on defense guarding players and providing weakside help or by running point guard for the second unit and setting up teammates.
The one concern with Ingram so far has been his shooting, but that finally seems to be turning around. He is still only shooting 36.9 percent from the field on the year, but the flashes on the court are starting to be more consistent.
With Ingram, Russell, and Randle all growing at the same time, the future for the Lakers has never been brighter.