The Los Angeles Lakers had what was considered a successful draft by many this past June, as they were able to hold onto their top-three protected pick, landing the No. 2 pick and drafting Duke forward Brandon Ingram. They then took 19-year-old center Ivica Zubac out of Croatia in the second round.
Both players played for the Lakers Summer League team in Las Vegas and turned heads at times. In five games, Ingram averaged 12.2 points and 4.2 rebounds on 41.2 percent shooting, while Zubac averaged 10.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game.
Heading into their first training camp, both rookies look to be a big part of the Lakers future. It will not only be their first training camp, but also the first for Luke Walton as a head coach. Walton served as an assistant for the Golden State Warriors for the past two seasons, as well as gaining some head coaching experience in an interim basis when Steve Kerr was away from the team due to illness.
According to Lakers Nation reporter Serena Winters, Walton is already impressed with what he has seen out of his two rookies:
Luke Walton said they’re “absolutely thrilled” w/ the development of Brandon Ingram and Ivica Zubac, happening quicker than he expected
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) August 31, 2016
The soon-to-be 19-year-old Ingram, who comes in at 6’9″ and just 190 pounds, will surely need to get stronger and more physical if he wants to be an All-Star-caliber player in the NBA. But Walton thinks he has done a good job so far of adjusting to the physicality of the NBA:
Luke Walton said he’s thought Brandon Ingram has adjusted to the "physicality of the NBA game nicely."
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) August 31, 2016
Ingram also recently received some praise from his peers, as he was voted the player most likely to have the best career by his fellow rookies.