Brandon Ingram has become a fairly divisive player in NBA circles.
Some think he’ll eventually be a superstar or occasional All-Star. They think he sees the floor well with the ball in his hands, tries super hard to make the right reads out of the pick-and-roll and that he’ll inevitably develop into a more efficient shooter and finisher around the rim.
Others are more skeptical. They don’t see a future star. They see a frail 20-year-old who won’t be able to gain enough weight to battle with NBA bodies for a long period of time. They don’t like his shot selection. They question whether his efficiency will ever really improve, and whether his team has saddled him with too many grand expectations.
One thing’s not up for debate, though: The Los Angeles Lakers love him. More specifically, head coach Luke Walton loves him. He’s been nothing but supportive of Ingram since last season, and that hasn’t changed, per Lakers Nation’s Serena Winters:
Luke Walton said not everyone plays better when angry, but Brandon Ingram is at ‘the top of the list’ of their guys that do.
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) October 26, 2017
No, this is not a stupid thing to say. Certain players lose their composure when they’re angry. Watch Ingram for a few games, and you’ll see what Walton is talking about. His aggression can fluctuate, but his poise never does.
Ingram already looks like he has better command of the floor and his handle. He fines crevices in the lane, looks more comfortable running pick-and-rolls and seems unafraid of letting his shot fly. His frame and efficiency are the only major red flags—and, let’s face it, that’s not exactly damning when talking about someone who just exited his teens.
The Lakers may, in fact, have a superstar gem on their hands.
