Los Angeles Lakers forward Brandon Ingram had a different mindset coming into the games after February's NBA All-Star break. The second overall pick of the 2016 NBA draft could have been struggling in the first part of the season. The former Duke standout was eager to get better and end the year in a positive way.
The month of March was the best one of Ingram's rookie season statistically. Though the Lakers ended the month with just three wins and 12 losses, Ingram was a bright spot for the team during the stretch. He was posting 13.5 points on a great 51.7 field goal percentage in 35 minutes per game given by coach Luke Walton.
An average of 12.7 points on 42.4 shooting percentage in the following month in reduced 24.3 minutes per contest wasn't a bad one either. Overall, Ingram stepped up and was playing much better after the break.The Lakers missed on a chance to feature the NBA playoffs for the fourth straight year. The team from Los Angeles ended the year with a 26-56 record. The growth and improvement of Ingram
The Lakers missed on a chance to feature the NBA playoffs for the fourth straight year. The team from Los Angeles ended the year with a 26-56 record. The growth and improvement of Ingram were something to be happy about.
''I think just a different mentality coming in,'' Ingram told UPROXX. ''Trying to help the team win and doing everything I can to be a hard-working player on the floor, getting better each and every day.
I knew we weren’t playing for anything,
Ingram added that he wanted to ''prove myself to the coaches or whoever around the organization that I was drafted that high for a reason.''
Magic Johnson, the instant help
Brandon Ingram also revealed to UPROXX that Los Angeles Lakers president of basketball operations Magic Johnson was there to help him.
Back in February, the team announced that Johnson will be replacing Jim Buss on the position in the front office. Johnson is a former Lakers players -- who is considered to be if not the greatest ever point guard to play in the NBA -- then at least of the best ever. Johnson has a deep knowledge of the game which could very well serve to any player in the league -- not just to a rookie one.
Ingram specifically mentioned that Johnson was giving him advice on finishing above and around the rim as well as being effective around the rim. When it comes to the pick and roll play, Johnson was advising Ingram on how to off that play.
An insight of what type of player Ingram is
Brandon Ingram has proved that he is a player who is willing to get his hands dirty in order to make it all look better. That's a winning, champion's mentality. It's always a positive thing for a player to end his rookie season on a good note and enter the offseason in good spirits.
