Brandon Ingram

Brandon Ingram
Erik Drost · CC BY 2.0 · source
Name	Brandon Ingram
Position	Small forward / Power forward
Weight lbs	190
League	National Basketball Association
Team	New Orleans Pelicans
Number	14
Birth date	2 September 1997
Birth place	Kinston, North Carolina
College	Duke
Draft	2016, 2, 2, 2nd overall
Career start	2016
Years1	2016–2019
Team1	Los Angeles Lakers
Years2	2019–present
Team2	New Orleans Pelicans

Brandon Ingram Brandon Ingram is an American professional basketball player who plays forward for the New Orleans Pelicans in the National Basketball Association. He emerged as a five-star recruit from North Carolina, starred at Duke University, and was selected second overall in the 2016 NBA Draft. In the NBA he has earned All-Star recognition and the NBA Most Improved Player Award while contributing in playoff runs and international competitions.

Early life and high school career

Born in Kinston, North Carolina, Ingram grew up in a region noted for producing athletes alongside figures from Duke, North Carolina, and NC State pipelines. He attended Kinston High School before transferring to Greenville Christian Academy and finally to Oak Hill Academy, following a path similar to alumni who moved between Kinston High School, Greenville Christian Academy, and Oak Hill Academy. As a prep standout he played in events featuring prospects associated with McDonald's All-American Game, Jordan Brand Classic, and Nike Hoop Summit, joining peers who would matriculate to programs at Duke University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Kentucky, University of Kansas, and University of Louisville. High school accolades placed him among contemporaries from storied high school programs like Montverde Academy, Mater Dei, and Findlay Prep.

College career

At Duke University he played for the Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team under coach Mike Krzyzewski during a season that included matchups in the Atlantic Coast Conference against North Carolina Tar Heels, Louisville Cardinals, Syracuse Orange, and Virginia Cavaliers. Ingram's freshman year featured performances in the ACC Tournament and the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, sharing rosters and rivalries with players who later entered the NBA Draft alongside athletes from Kansas Jayhawks, Kentucky Wildcats, and UCLA Bruins. His collegiate play earned All-ACC recognition and invitations to national combine events preceding the 2016 NBA draft.

Professional career

Selected second overall in the 2016 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers, he joined a roster with historical ties to Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, and other franchises that have produced MVPs and Hall of Famers such as Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, and LeBron James. With the Lakers he had developmental seasons involving assignments to the South Bay Lakers of the NBA G League and faced opponents from teams including the Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, and Houston Rockets. Traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in 2019 in a package connected to the acquisition of Anthony Davis, he broke out under coaches who prepared rosters facing teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Dallas Mavericks, and Denver Nuggets. He was named NBA Most Improved Player and later selected to the NBA All-Star Game, competing alongside stars from franchises such as the Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Toronto Raptors, and Boston Celtics. His playoff appearances included series versus Utah Jazz, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Clippers, and Phoenix Suns.

National team and international play

Ingram has represented the United States in developmental and exhibition contexts associated with USA Basketball programs, joining a cohort of American players who have participated in events alongside alumni from Team USA (basketball), the FIBA Basketball World Cup, and the Olympic Games cycles. His international exposure includes games and training camps that align with tournaments where nations such as Spain, France, Australia, Argentina, and Serbia compete. He has also played in preseason and in-season international matchups that brought NBA teams into contact with clubs and national teams from the EuroLeague, Liga ACB, and other global leagues.

Player profile and statistics

A 6 ft 9 in forward with a lanky frame, Ingram draws stylistic comparisons to forwards who blend perimeter skills and length, echoing traits of players tied to Kevin Durant, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Brandon Roy in scouting narratives. Offensively he operates as a pick-and-roll option, perimeter shooter, and creator in isolation similar to roles filled by players from Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks systems; defensively his wingspan and mobility enable matchups versus small forwards from teams like Atlanta Hawks and Indiana Pacers. Statistical highlights include scoring averages, rebounds, assists, and efficiency metrics tracked by the NBA and analytical platforms that reference datasets from seasons featuring leaders from Stephen Curry, James Harden, Luka Dončić, Nikola Jokić, and Joel Embiid. Advanced metrics used to evaluate him include player efficiency ratings, win shares, and plus-minus figures that are commonly applied to assess talents across franchises such as the Sacramento Kings, Orlando Magic, Charlotte Hornets, and Minnesota Timberwolves.

Personal life

He is part of a family with ties to basketball and athletics in North Carolina, sharing hometown recognition with athletes from Kinston, North Carolina and attending institutions linked to alumni networks including Duke University, Wake Forest University, and University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Off the court his interests intersect with charitable initiatives, community programs, and brand partnerships similar to activities undertaken by NBA players associated with entities like United Nations programs, NBA Cares, and various nonprofit organizations. Public life brings interactions with media outlets, sports broadcasters, and personalities from networks such as ESPN, TNT, ABC, CBS Sports and digital platforms covering the National Basketball Association.

Category:1997 births Category:Living people Category:African-American basketball players Category:New Orleans Pelicans players Category:Los Angeles Lakers players