Brandon Ingram

Ingram is an American forward with a résumé that includes two All-Star selections, a Most Improved Player award, and a top-two draft pedigree. Selected by the Lakers in 2016 after one season at Duke, he spent three seasons in Los Angeles before a trade to New Orleans made him a central piece of the Pelicans offense. His ability to score from all three levels, combined with a significant physical transformation and improved efficiency, has established him as one of the most versatile wings in the league.

Born on September 2, 1997, in Kinston, North Carolina, Ingram is the son of Donald and Joann Ingram. He has two half-siblings, an older brother, Donovan, and an older sister, Brittany. He attended Kinston High School, where he won state championships all four years and was named North Carolina Mr. Basketball. He committed to Duke University, played one season under Mike Krzyzewski, and was named Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year. After the season, he declared for the 2016 NBA draft.

The Los Angeles Lakers selected Ingram with the second overall pick in 2016. He earned All-Rookie Second Team honors and spent three seasons with the Lakers, showing flashes of scoring potential but struggling with consistency and efficiency. In 2019, the Lakers traded him to the New Orleans Pelicans as part of a package for Anthony Davis. With the Pelicans, Ingram blossomed. He averaged 23.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in his first season and was named the 2020 NBA Most Improved Player. He earned his first All-Star selection that season and repeated the honor in 2023.

Ingram is a scoring forward with a smooth shooting stroke, long arms, and the ability to score from all three levels. He operates effectively in the mid-range, extends his range to the three-point line, and attacks the rim with craft and length. His pick-and-roll game improved significantly in New Orleans, and he became a reliable passer and decision-maker. Defensively, his length allows him to contest shots and disrupt passing lanes, though consistency remains an area of refinement. His physical transformation—adding muscle without sacrificing agility—has made him more durable and effective in the post.

Ingram enters the 2025–26 season with the Toronto Raptors. His résumé includes four North Carolina state titles, North Carolina Mr. Basketball, ACC Rookie of the Year at Duke, a second overall draft selection, All-Rookie Second Team honors, two All-Star berths, a 2020 Most Improved Player award, a 2019 trade from the Lakers to the Pelicans, and a move to Toronto. His path from Kinston through Duke, Los Angeles, New Orleans, and into Toronto reflects a career of incremental offensive growth and expanding versatility as a primary scoring option.