 Ingram with the Lakers in November 2018. | |
| No. 14 – New Orleans Pelicans | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Small Forward |
| League: | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Full name: | Brandon Xavier Ingram |
| Born: | September 2, 1997 Kinston, North Carolina |
| Nationality: |  American
|
| Physical stats | |
| Listed height: | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
| Listed weight: | 195 lbs (88 kg) |
| National Basketball Association career | |
| Debut: 2016 for the Los Angeles Lakers | |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Kinston (Kinston, North Carolina) |
| College: | Duke (2015–2016) |
| NBA Draft: | 2016 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2nd |
| Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers | |
| Playing career: | 2016–present (8 years) |
| Career history | |
| 2016–2019 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2019–present | New Orleans Pelicans |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Brandon Xavier Ingram (born September 2, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the second overall pick in the 2016 Draft, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
Ingram had a successful high school career in North Carolina, where he won state titles each of his four years of high school and was named North Carolina's Mr. Basketball. He played one season of college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils, where he was named Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year. After the season, Ingram decided to forgo his remaining college eligibility and declared for the NBA Draft. He played three seasons with the Lakers before being traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in 2019 in a package for Anthony Davis.
High school career[]
Ingram in the 2015 McDonald's All-American Game.
Ingram played for the Kinston Vikings during his time in high school. During his freshman year, Ingram would come off the bench, but his role in the team would quickly grow. In 2013, during his junior year, Ingram showed signs of improvement and led the Vikings to a state title where he scored 28 points and 16 rebounds in the deciding game. Ingram averaged 19.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, and 1.5 assists per game and was named Eastern Regional Most Valuable Player (MVP).
As a senior, he averaged 24.3 points and 10.4 rebounds per game and led the Vikings to a 26–4 record. In his final high school basketball game, he was named MVP of the state championship game after scoring 28 points to go with 10 rebounds and 5 blocks in a win over East Lincoln High School at the Dean E. Smith Center. Ingram was rated as a five-star recruit and was considered among the best high school prospects of the 2015 class. In April 2015, Ingram announced that he would play for Duke University.
College career[]
As the fifth seed in the ACC Tournament, Duke beat NC State in the second round, but lost to Notre Dame in the quarterfinals. In the 2016 NCAA Tournament, Duke was awarded a fourth seed and won their first round match-up against UNC Wilmington. After beating Yale in the second round, Duke was defeated in the Sweet 16 by Oregon despite 24 points from Ingram. In 36 games for Duke in 2015-16, Ingram averaged 17.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 34.6 minutes per game, while shooting 44.2% from the field, 41.0% from three-point range and 68.2% from the free throw line. However, his spectacular play in the tournament was what earned him ACC Rookie of the Year honors and AP All-American honorable mention. On April 4, 2016, Ingram declared for the 2016 Draft, forgoing his final three years of college eligibility.
Professional career[]
Los Angeles Lakers (2016–2019)[]
Ingram was selected with the 2nd pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. He made his debut for the Lakers in their season opener on October 26, 2016, scoring nine points off the bench in a 120–114 win over the Houston Rockets. On November 23, in his first career start, Ingram scored a then career-high 16 points in a 149–106 loss to the Golden State Warriors. He topped that mark on December 2, scoring 17 points in a 113–80 loss to the Toronto Raptors. On December 17, he had nine points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, finishing just an assist and point shy of becoming the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double in Los Angeles' 119–108 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. On January 6, 2017, he had his second 17-point game of the season in a 127–100 win over the Miami Heat. Two days later, he had another 17-point effort in a 111–95 win over the Orlando Magic. During the NBA All-Star Weekend, he participated in the Rising Stars Challenge along with teammate D'Angelo Russell. He hit the 20-point mark for the first time in his career on February 26, scoring 22 points in a 119–98 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. At the end of the season, Ingram was named to the All Rookie Second Team.
During his only game in Summer League, Ingram scored 26 points in the first game and according to the Los Angeles Times, "had a fabulous debut this summer[...] and outclassed all the other players on the court". On October 20, 2017, he scored a then career-high 25 points in a 132–130 win over the Phoenix Suns. On November 15, 2017, he scored 26 points to go with a career-best 11 rebounds in a 115–109 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. On November 29, he scored a career-high 32 points in a 127–123 overtime loss to the defending champion Golden State Warriors. On December 7, he scored 21 points, including the game-winning 3-pointer with 0.8 seconds remaining, leading the Lakers to a 107–104 victory over the 76ers to end a five-game losing streak. On January 5, 2018, he had 22 points and a career-high 14 rebounds in a 108–94 loss to the Charlotte Hornets. For the second year, he participated in the Rising Stars Challenge during NBA All-Star Weekend for Team USA. On March 1, Ingram suffered a groin strain that would cause him to miss 12 straight games. He returned on March 30 against the Milwaukee Bucks, but suffered a neck muscle contusion during the game and was placed in the NBA's concussion protocol, causing him to miss the rest of the season.
Ingram and Rajon Rondo received a four-game suspension early in the 2018–19 season for their involvement in an on-court fight against James Harden and the Houston Rockets on October 20. Ingram missed seven games in December with a sprained left ankle. On January 17, 2019, he had a career-high 11 assists in a 138–128 overtime win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. On January 29, he scored a career-high 36 points in a 121–105 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. On March 9, Ingram was ruled out for the remainder of the season due to a deep vein thrombosis in his arm.
New Orleans Pelicans (2019–present)[]
On July 6, 2019, the Lakers traded Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, the draft rights to De'Andre Hunter, two first round picks, a first-round pick swap and cash to the New Orleans Pelicans for All-Star Anthony Davis. On November 4, 2019, Ingram recorded a then career-high by scoring 40 points in a loss against the Brooklyn Nets. On January 16, 2020, he bested that career-high, scoring 49 points in a 138–132 overtime win over the Utah Jazz. Ingram gave New Orleans a one-point lead with a fadeaway jumper with 0.2 seconds remaining in regulation, before Rudy Gobert was fouled and sent the game to overtime with a free throw. He became an NBA All-Star in his first year as a Pelican. He was named the NBA Most Improved Player after averaging 23.8 points. 6.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. After becoming a restricted free agent in the 2020 offseason, Ingram re-signed to the Pelicans on a five-year, $158 million contract. His contract has no player or team option, setting Ingram up to become a free agent again in the 2025 offseason.
On December 3, 2021, Ingram recorded a career-high 12 assists, along with 24 points and eight rebounds, in a 107–91 win over the Dallas Mavericks. Two days later, he scored a season-high 40 points in a 118–108 loss to the Houston Rockets. On January 11, 2022, Ingram recorded 33 points and nine assists, and hit a game-winning three-pointer to lift the Pelicans to a 128–125 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. On 19 April, during Game 2 of the first round of the playoffs, Ingram recorded 37 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists in a 125–114 win over the Phoenix Suns. In Game 4, on April 24, Ingram scored 30 points in a 118–103 win to tie the series at 2–2. New Orleans would go on to lose to Phoenix in six games despite Ingram averaging 27.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 6.2 assists. On June 7, Ingram underwent surgery on his right pinky finger and was ruled out for 6-to-8 weeks.
On March 24, 2023, Ingram achieved the first triple-double of his NBA career with 30 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in the Pelicans' 115–96 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. On March 30, Ingram put up a triple-double with 31 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 107–88 win over the Denver Nuggets. He joined Chris Paul as the only players with multiple games of at least 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in Pelicans history. On April 9, in the final game of the 2022–23 season, Ingram posted season-highs with 42 points and 12 rebounds along with 7 assists in a 113–108 loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
National team career[]
Ingram was selected to the 2016 U.S. select team, which trained with the 2016 U.S. Olympic basketball team.
Player profile[]
Ingram during a closed practice of the 2015 McDonald's All-American Game.
Standing 6 feet 9 inches tall (2.06 m) and weighing 196 pounds (89 kg), Ingram plays mostly at the small forward position. His long arms, stretching to a 7-foot 3 inch wingspan and 9-foot 1 inch standing reach, allows him get his shot off over defenders and block shots on the defensive end. Ingram has drawn frequent comparisons to Kevin Durant, after whom he patterned his playing style revealing, "I try to take bits and pieces out of [Durant's] game and put it in my game [but] at the end of the day, he's Kevin Durant, and I'm Brandon Ingram". Like Durant, Ingram has been criticized for his slim frame; however one Western Conference coach stated that Ingram is "just weak right now. He's not soft, by any stretch of the imagination." After a Team USA practice, Durant told reporters that Ingram is "the first person that I could... look at him and feel like I'm looking in the mirror". In his rookie year, Ingram was utilized as a Point Forward by coach Luke Walton, who stated that "it helps engage [Ingram] in the game."
Off the court[]
Growing up, one of Ingram's favorite things to do as a kid was fishing with his grandmother at Atlantic Beach. Ingram signed with Excel Sports Management and is represented by Excel founder and president Jeff Schwartz. In 2016, he chose to sign an endorsement deal with Adidas Basketball and made an appearance in a commercial for Speed Stick along with then Minnesota Timberwolves Point Guard Kris Dunn. In early 2017, he teamed up with L.A. street artist Jonas Never for Delta's "Beyond the Court" campaign, which will see Ingram and Laker teammate Jordan Clarkson explore their passions outside of basketball. While Clarkson is an aspiring fashion designer, Ingram's passion for art began with him drawing basketball players and cartoon characters, which was bolstered by taking a portrait drawing class at Duke.
Career statistics[]
| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
NBA[]
Regular season[]
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016–17 | L.A. Lakers | 79 | 40 | 28.8 | .402 | .294 | .621 | 4.0 | 2.1 | .6 | .4 | 9.4 |
| 2017–18 | L.A. Lakers | 59 | 59 | 33.5 | .470 | .390 | .681 | 5.3 | 3.9 | .8 | .7 | 16.1 |
| 2018–19 | L.A. Lakers | 52 | 52 | 33.8 | .497 | .330 | .675 | 5.1 | 3.0 | .5 | .6 | 18.3 |
| 2019–20 | New Orleans | 62 | 62 | 33.9 | .463 | .391 | .851 | 6.1 | 4.2 | 1.0 | .6 | 23.8 |
| 2020–21 | New Orleans | 61 | 61 | 34.3 | .466 | .381 | .878 | 4.9 | 4.9 | .7 | .6 | 23.8 |
| 2021–22 | New Orleans | 55 | 55 | 34.0 | .461 | .327 | .826 | 5.8 | 5.6 | .6 | .5 | 22.7 |
| 2022–23 | New Orleans | 45 | 45 | 34.2 | .484 | .390 | .882 | 5.5 | 5.8 | .7 | .4 | 24.7 |
| Career | 413 | 374 | 33.0 | .464 | .364 | .784 | 5.2 | 4.1 | .7 | .6 | 19.2 | |
| All-Star | 1 | 0 | 8.6 | .250 | .000 | — | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | .0 | 2.0 | |
Play–In Tournament[]
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | New Orleans | 2 | 2 | 36.1 | .625 | .000 | .700 | 5.5 | 5.5 | .0 | .0 | 28.5 |
| 2023 | New Orleans | 1 | 1 | 37.8 | .526 | .500 | .818 | 6.0 | 7.0 | .0 | 1.0 | 30.0 |
| Career | 3 | 3 | 36.7 | .593 | .250 | .762 | 5.7 | 6.0 | .0 | .3 | 29.0 | |
Playoffs[]
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | New Orleans | 6 | 6 | 39.3 | .475 | .407 | .830 | 6.2 | 6.2 | .7 | .3 | 27.0 |
| Career | 6 | 6 | 39.3 | .475 | .407 | .830 | 6.2 | 6.2 | .7 | .3 | 27.0 | |
College[]
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015–16 | Duke | 36 | 34 | 34.6 | .442 | .410 | .682 | 6.8 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 17.3 |
Awards and honors[]
- NBA
- NBA All-Star (2020)
- NBA Most Improved Player (2020)
- 2× Rising Stars Challenge (2017, 2018)
- NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2017)
- College
- Associated Press Honorable Mention (2016)
- ACC Rookie of the Year (2016)
- High school
- 4× NCHSAA champion (2012–2014, 2015)
- North Carolina Mr. Basketball (2015)
- McDonald's All–American (2015)
- First-team Parade All-American (2015)
- Nike Hoop Summit (2015)