via Getty
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 10: The Lakers’ Kobe Bryant looks to shoot past the Cavaliers’ LeBron James during their 120-108 loss to Cleveland at Staples Center Thursday night. ///ADDITIONAL INFO: lakers.0311.kjs — Photo by KEVIN SULLIVAN / Orange County Register — 3/10/16 The Los Angeles Lakers take on the Cleveland Cavaliers Staples Center Thursday night. 3/10/16 (Photo by Kevin Sullivan/Digital First Media/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
via Getty
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 10: The Lakers’ Kobe Bryant looks to shoot past the Cavaliers’ LeBron James during their 120-108 loss to Cleveland at Staples Center Thursday night. ///ADDITIONAL INFO: lakers.0311.kjs — Photo by KEVIN SULLIVAN / Orange County Register — 3/10/16 The Los Angeles Lakers take on the Cleveland Cavaliers Staples Center Thursday night. 3/10/16 (Photo by Kevin Sullivan/Digital First Media/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
When the Los Angeles Lakers traded for Anthony Davis, they gave up their entire young talent. Several of those stars showed promise of becoming stars, but the Lakers pulled the plug on them and got LeBron James a superstar teammate. Now those young players have developed into stars for various teams. One of them is Brandon Ingram, who even impressed the great Kobe Bryant.
The Lakers selected Ingram 2nd overall in the 2016 NBA draft. Many compared him to Kevin Durant due to his length. When Ingram came into the league, he developed into a very good scorer and showed great potential.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
But when LeBron came into the team, his game took a hit. His numbers were down and he was not efficient. So the Lakers decided to keep Kyle Kuzma and send Ingram along with Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart to the Pelicans.
Kobe Bryant praised Ingram for his game before he started playing with LeBron James
Kobe had seen Ingram play at Duke. He was asked what he thought about his game. Kobe said, “I think he plays with a lot of poise. He can shoot the long ball. He can left and finish, he can go right and finish, left and shoot, right and shoot. Extremely long and knows how to use it. So I was very impressed.”
USA Today via Reuters
Dec 31, 2020; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) shoots as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) defends during the second half at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Kobe was extremely impressed when he watched Ingram as he was an excellent scorer at college. But the Lakers didn’t feel he would be the best fit next to LeBron and Davis so they traded him. And now he has become a star.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Ingram took a couple of years to adjust with the Pelicans, but now he is their go-to guy. He has developed into an all-star and is the team’s leading scorer. As Kobe said, Ingram uses his size to his advantage, and he is one of the league’s best mid-range scorers.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
WATCH THIS STORY: Who is Magic Johnson’s wife?
He also added a little bit of size and he has become a very good finisher at the rim. The Pelicans have a superstar in the making and they are setting up the right pieces to build around him. If they get Zion back to his best, the Pelicans will become a very dangerous team.
