Los Angeles Lakers forward Brandon Ingram admits he has to get better. The former Duke Blue Devil didn't shine in Lakers' 75-69 win over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday. The forward scored five points on 1-of-6 shooting from the field and grabbed five rebounds in 29 minutes of action.
Overall, Lakers rising star Ingram hasn't had the greatest NBA preseason so far. Ingram's preseason scoring best performance came in the preseason opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The 20-year-old scored 10 points but went just 4-of-15 from the field.
Ingram also collected nine points for the Lakers in their first preseason matchup against the Denver Nuggets.
Ingram didn't play the second game against the Nuggets two days later as he was forced to sit out the game. Ingram is averaging eight points on 26.7 field goal percentage this preseason, according to Serena Winters of Lakers Nation.
Brandon Ingram’s preseason averages: 8 points (26.7 FG%), 4.3 rebounds, 24.4 mpg.
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) October 9, 2017
''As a basketball player I got to do better and I got to be more competitive. I got to have more energy on a basketball floor...kinda come in and have a better mentality. So for me these last three games...I can go back and reflect on them a little bit...just try to gear up for the regular season," Ingram said, in a video provided by Lakers Nation.
The Summer League Ingram
Rising Lakers star Ingram hopes to start performing the way he performed in the NBA Las Vegas Summer League this past July. Ingram scored a game-high 26 points in Lakers' Summer League opener against their city rivals Los Angeles Clippers. The Lakers eventually lost to the Clippers in the overtime.
Ingram came out confident, leading the Lakers on the court against the Clippers.
Though the Lakers lost, there were lots of positives to be drawn from Ingram's performance. Ingram suffered cramps in the last moments of the fourth quarter against the Clippers. The 20-year-old was held out of the overtime and eventually the rest of the Summer League.
"Absolutely. I'm trying to get back there.'' Ingram confessed.
Ingram remains optimistic
The Lakers hoped Ingram would continue to showcase his offseason improvement in the preseason games. Unfortunately, Ingram has yet to find his rhythm and get comfortable on the court. However, the 20-year-old insists he will eventually get to the level at which he wants to be.
''I know I can get back there. Just trying to be in better condition...trying to get to my spots. I think watching film and doing everything I can...I know I will get back to where I want to be," Ingram acknowledged.
