Despite Heartbreak on World Stage, Brandon Ingram Credits Team USA Stint for Valuable “Lessons”

The New Orleans Pelicans have made it to the semifinals of the inaugural In-Season tournament. They defeated the Sacramento Kings 117-127 in the quarterfinals. The Pelicans have shown a marked improvement from last season in which they finished ninth in the Western Conference standings. Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson‘s stellar forms have been a huge contributing factor in New Orleans’ deep In-Season tournament run.

Pelicans’ star Brandon Ingram played a starring role in his team’s victory over the Kings. However, after the match, Ingram credited Team USA’s disappointing World Cup for his exceptional early-season form.

Ingram credits summer camp with Team USA for his fine-form

The Pelicans punched their ticket to the semis of the In-Season tournament, after defeating the Kings 117-127. Ingram recorded 30 points (most in the game), 8 rebounds, and 6 assists in the game. BI’s early season form has contributed immensely to New Orleans’ promising start to the season.

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In a recent interview, Ingram credited summer camp with Team USA for his early season success. He said, “In USA, I learned a lot of lessons. It gave me a little head start on conditioning for the NBA. So, when I came into the training camp, I was ready to go. I had some slow start, but it’s been better and better with every season. I feel good. Hopefully, I can keep going on. My body feels good.”

Indeed, Ingram has looked sharp in the early stages of the season. He has averaged 23.7 points, 5.3 assists, and 5.3 rebounds in 19 games this season. He has just missed three games for the Pelicans, a massive improvement from the last season in which he missed 37 games due to multiple injuries.

While Team USA’s performance in the FIBA World Cup was underwhelming, as they finished fourth, Ingram’s participation in the summer camp proved valuable for his readiness for the challenging season ahead. But can they keep up this positive momentum?

Are the Pelicans poised for deep playoff run?

The Pelicans have the talent to challenge for the title. However, their star players like Zion and Ingram are too injury-prone. Last season, the duo missed a combined total of 90 games. The Pelicans also have a talented pool of excellent role players like Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, and Jonas Valanciunas.

Although the Pelicans have shown a marked improvement from last season, there are still signs of inconsistency, a trait typically not associated with title challengers. Nevertheless, the Pelicans possess one of the most promising rosters in the league, and achieving success would only be a matter of time if their stars can stay healthy.

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