If you’re new to the NBA and are looking for a place that lets you know everything there is to know about the game’s rising stars, then you’ve come to the right place. Here, we deliver content 100% related to everything that goes on in the league, including the biggest names in the game. Today, it’s our turn to talk about Brandon Ingram, one of the up-and-coming forwards in the NBA.
Ingram managed to overcome some growing pains when he first entered the league. Now, he’s a respected prospect, an All-Star, and one of the few hopes the New Orleans Pelicans have at becoming a competitive team in the foreseeable future. Market research and audience insights may not exactly favor his team’s chances to hold on to him for much longer, which is why you better jump on the boat right away and start rooting for him before he becomes an even bigger sensation. Sit tight, buckle up, and let’s go.
Brandon Ingram – Early Years
Brandon Ingram was born on September 2, 1997, in Kinston North Carolina. The younger of three brothers, he’s the son of a police officer who grew up with dreams of being an NBA player, even making it to several semi-pro leagues and hooping with Jerry Stackhouse, who viewed him as something like a mentor.
Ingram grew up playing basketball with his father and his older brother Donovan, staying away from the streets to focus on his hooping skills. If you’re familiar with Kinston’s approximate location, then you must know that its crime rates have been through the roof for decades, but Ingram only had one goal in mind.
His older brother played NCAA basketball at South Plains and UT Arlington but never found the success Brandon would eventually come across. Moreover, hoops were pretty much everything to him growing up, as his father was a high school and collegiate basketball referee, and Jerry Stackhouse reached out to him as a mentor and as his AAU coach. That positive influence eventually led them to where he is nowadays.
What college did Brandon Ingram go to?
Brandon Ingram was a huge star at Kinston High School, leading them to the state championship game in every single one of his four years there. He dominated and excelled from day one, his presence was more enough to improve existing systems on his team and gauge nationwide attention, even though he didn’t play for the kind of school which automatically sends players to NCAA hoops.
His game got better by the day and looked poised for stardom. Ingram played out of his mind during his junior year, leading his school to its third consecutive state title. Multiple programs reached out to him via email, phone, Facebook, and every single way they could try and get his attention, as he was one of the top-ranked recruits in the country.
Brandon Ingram – Days At Duke
Ingram was going to college but not for the purely educational purposes presented by some of the programs that reached out to him. He decided to enroll at Duke University to play for legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski and get ready for the NBA Draft. The Blue Devils entered the season ranked as the fifth-ranked team in the NCAA, with him being one of just seven freshmen to be named to the 50-man Wooden Award preseason watchlist after helping duke defeat Bryant in the 2K Sports Classic.
Ingram bounced on and off the starting lineup during the first couple of games of his college career career but it was just a matter of time before he proved how special he was. His contributions helped lead Duke to the ACC Tournament semifinals, although they eventually lost to Notre Dame. Throughout his lone season in NCAA hoops, he averaged 17.3 PPG (points per game), 6.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists on 44.2% shooting, 41.0% from beyond the arc, and knocking down 68.2% of his free throws.
Brandon Ingram – Making It To The NBA
After his incredible rookie year in college basketball, it was clear that Ingram’s game was NBA-ready. Taking a look back to his scouting report, most exact insights claimed that he was something of the likes of KD 2.0, drawing worldwide attention from Sports Illustrated. Eventually, he was taken with the 2nd overall pick of the NBA draft.
Brandon Ingram – Struggles With Los Angeles Lakers
Ingram made it to a Los Angeles Lakers team that was struggling to stay competitive and gathering as many high draft picks as they could. Ingram’s career got off to a long start, scoring nine points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists to almost become the youngest player to have a triple-double. He shared the floor with Kobe Bryant during the final quarter of his career, and that was perhaps the biggest takeaway he could get from his days at STAPLES Center.
Often solid but unimpressive, Lakers’ fans and the front office lost their patience with the team’s young core. Their game was improving but not at the rate they expected, and they knew they needed to pull something off to go back to the top of the world. So, one season after signing LeBron James, they decided to trade away most of their youngsters – Ingram included – to the Pelicans.
Brandon Ingram – The Trade: New Orleans Pelicans Win A Star
That trade was a blessing in disguise for Ingram. He shook off the pressure of playing for such a storied franchise, and it showed as soon as the regular season began. Ingram’s game turned around by averaging a career-high of 23.8 points, 4.2 assists, and way over five rebounds per game. Now, with Zion Williamson on the shelf, he’s the team’s go-to guy, while some insiders expect Herbert Jones to also take a step forward while their biggest star is off the floor.
Brandon Ingram – What’s Next?
You don’t have to be a market research specialist to realize that he’s already outgrown his team. There are rumors of Zion Williamson not wanting to extend his contract with the team once his time comes, and that would leave little-to-no incentives for Ingram to stay in Louisiana. Given his rare combination of length, size, and shooting; Ingram will draw plenty of interest around the trade market if the Pelicans fail to keep Zion or at least put together a somewhat decent playoff push in the next couple of years.
Some claim that the players forcing their ways out of their contracts is somewhat fraudulent activity and it’s a growing concern among sports management. But regardless of the audience insights and thoughts, the player empowerment era is here to stay and we don’t see Ingram wasting his prime in a team that just can’t compete.
Brandon Ingram – Awards And Accolades
Ingram has achieved quite a lot in his brief career. He processes work properly and continues to get better every single year. Thus far, he’s been an NBA All-Star, won the NBA Most Improved Player award, and made the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. Also, he was a huge sensation during his days in high school in college, as he was named North Carolina Mr. Basketball, was a McDonald’s All-American, and a First-Team Parade All-American. At Duke, he was the ACC Rookie of the Year, made the Second-team All-ACC, and was an AP Honorable Mention All-American. And the best part is that he’s just getting started.
How much does Brandon Ingram make per year?
Even though he hasn’t been around the league for long, Brandon Ingram is already generationally wealthy. Per Sports Reference, he’s made $51,108,685 since his first year in the NBA. He and the Pelicans agreed to a massive 5-year, fully-guaranteed $158 million contract extension, with his salary going from $27,285,000 in his first season to $29,467,800 in his second; $31,650,600 in the third year, $33,833,400 in the fourth season, and $36,016,200 in the final year of his deal. He’s making an average of $31,650,600 per year and will be an unrestricted free agent again in 2025 at just 28 years old. He secured the bag, that’s for sure.
How good is Brandon Ingram?
Judging by online activity in New Orleans, you can tell he’s already a local star, and for very good reasons. People don’t view ads of him just for fun. The sky seems to be the limit for a player like Ingram, assuming he manages to avoid injury.
The comparisons with Kevin Durant aren’t that far-fetched at all. They’re both long, lanky, and have ball-handling skills that aren’t that common for players their size. They can shoot over nearly everybody in the league, and make the most of their wingspan to be deadly in defensive switches again. Ingram has yet to scratch the surface of his potential but he continues to improve his game and blossom as a prolific scorer from all three levels.
Moreover, he’s made great strides as a defender as well, becoming a threat in passing lanes and using his long arms to alter shots when he’s in the paint. Ingram may never become the superstar scouts thought he’d be when he was in high school or when he made his ACC debut. But there’s no denying that he’s a special talent whose only flaw has been his inability to stay on the court due to multiple nagging pains and injuries. Hopefully, he’ll be able to shake those past woes off, as he’s one of the most exciting players in today’s game, and we’d love to see him dominate side by side with Zion Williamson for many years to come.
What shoe size is Brandon Ingram?
The forward of New Orleans Pelicans wears shoes size 15.
