While there has been plenty for Los Angeles Lakers fans to get excited about through the first two preseason games, one player who has struggled both nights is second overall pick Brandon Ingram.
The rookie has not shot the ball well, making only two of his 13 shots in his first two games including only one of six from three-point range. To his credit, however, Ingram has found other ways to contribute, particularly on the defensive end.
While some may be worried about Ingram’s rough start, head coach Luke Walton isn’t one of them. According to Bill Oram of the OC Register, Walton isn’t concerned at all and noted that Ingram has been a great shooter in practice:
“He was good at some things and bad at others,” Walton said. “He’s young. He still looks like he’s rushing his shot a little bit, which I’m not concerned with at all.”
Ingram is a lights-out shooter in practice, the first-year coach said.
Someone else who isn’t worried about Ingram is second-year point guard D’Angelo Russell who believes things will get easier for the rookie, and also brought up another reason why Ingram may be struggling to shoot:
Second-year point guard D’Angelo Russell was complimentary of Ingram, saying the shooting “will only get easier” as he continues to adjust to the NBA.
“I feel like you have to get shots at the NBA arena, not the practice facility,” Russell said. “When I first got my chance to shoot out here in a pregame last year it was different. You have to get shots up at the Staples Center.”
For someone with Ingram’s skill-set it’s only a matter of time before his jumper begins to fall. The fact that Ingram has been able to fill up the stat sheet in other ways is encouraging as it shows how well-rounded a player he is.
The leap from college to the NBA is a difficult one and it takes time for players to adjust. In time Ingram will become more comfortable and confident and once that happens fans will get a true glimpse at what the second overall pick can ultimately become.