He’s previously been named an NBA All-Star in 2020 and took over a 2022 first-round playoff series, averaging a gaudy 27-6-6 vs. Phoenix, but the finest basketball of Brandon Ingram’s career may have taken place this spring. Over a 14-game span from mid-March through the end of the 2022-23 regular season, the forward averaged 28.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 8.1 assists, while shooting 51 percent from the field, 38 percent on three-pointers and 91 percent from the foul line. Asked on Media Day if that’s the best he’s ever performed, Ingram responded, “I think as a complete player (it was).”
Indeed, the Duke product led New Orleans to a 9-5 record, allowing the Pelicans to secure a Western Conference play-in berth. He completely controlled the action in several victories, including tallying 30-plus points vs. Denver and the Clippers (twice). Although it came in a loss, Ingram deposited 42 points at Minnesota in the regular season finale. Just as importantly, he turned in his premier stretch of playmaking since entering the NBA as the No. 2 overall draft pick in 2016. Four of his five double-digit assist games last season took place over a two-week span from March 23-April 5.
“I feel like it’s the best shape I’ve been in,” Ingram said, explaining what led to the stretch. “Me handling the ball a little more, I was able to show off my passing. I was feeling good about my game, I had watched a lot of film on how defenses were playing me and I was in a rhythm.”
Ingram finished the campaign with a career-high average of 5.8 assists, an area he’s improved nearly every season as a pro.
“My first time playing against B.I., that was the thing that stood out to me most, was his passing,” Pelicans wing Herb Jones said. “He put it on display more (in March and April), but that was always a strength of his, being able to playmake, his vision. And he loves the game, he studies the game. He knows where everybody’s going to be. He tries to put guys in spots where they’re comfortable.”
Ballhandling ability and his rangy, 6-foot-8 frame also help Ingram carve up defenses. That length creates a matchup problem for many opponents.
“He’s tall as hell, so I think that makes it easier,” smiling guard CJ McCollum said of Ingram’s passing. “He’s super tall and can see over the defense. He’s a three-level scorer, loves to play in mid-range, has a great pace, a great feel. He can change directions to kind of get the defense off-balance. And he has a high basketball IQ. He wants to be great. If you want to be great, you have to be able to pass, dribble and create.”
“You saw him at the end of last season, where we put the ball in his hands and he really carried us,” head coach Willie Green said. “No. 1, his size (is advantageous as a passer). He can see over the defense. He’s got a high, high skill set. He makes the right reads. He knows when to score, when to pass the ball. It’s a luxury to have.”
The 26-year-old is looking forward to carrying over that all-around excellence to his eighth NBA campaign. Last season was sidetracked by a 29-game DNP stretch due to a toe injury, but he only missed two games after the All-Star break.
“I got a chance to play in maybe the last 25 games,” Ingram said. “Of course due to injury I wasn’t able to, but I would’ve loved to play that way throughout the whole season.”