From "Durante Little" to the Real Leader: Ingram s Silent Evolution

Amid the thunderous "MVP" calls at Staples Center, a 32-year-old gray-haired veteran stood on the free throw line - Andre Ingram, who held on to the Development League for ten years and finally scored 19 points in the Lakers' debut three-pointer 4 of 5 shots, setting a team's first three-pointer record. Kobe congratulated him, Paul moved him, and the whole league was excited by a "temporary player". In the same stadium, another young man named Ingram, Brandon Ingram, is quietly writing his own legend.

Talent Awakening: The transformation from second place to killer

2016 draft night, the scout report engraved Brandon Ingram's talent into golden characters: 2.08 meters tall and 2.22 meters high, 99 points of potential score crushed the same level, and marked the shooting ability as "the best talent". But when he first entered the Lakers, his thin body was shaking in the confrontation. He only scored 9.4 points in the rookie season and was ridiculed as the "second-largest player". The gear of fate flew after transferring to the Pelicans.

In the 2019-20 season, his three-point shooting percentage jumped from 33.0% to 39.1%, and CITIC increased from 37.8% to 43.2%. He transformed into an offensive kaleidoscope: fast attacks are like sharp arrows (15th in the fast attacks per game), singles are like scalpels (13th in the singles per game per game), and CNP has reached a more advanced level - the number of mid-range shots in the early stage of the season has topped the league.

When he scored 49 points against the Jazz and made a final shot from Gobert's head, the nickname of "Durant Jr." finally changed from teasing to awe.

Leader Gene: Evolution of Silent Controller

In the 2022 playoffs, the Pelicans and the Suns' series became Ingram's coronation.

He scored 30+ in three consecutive games, surpassing Anthony Davis to set a team record. Facing his idol Paul, he ignored the defense and pulled out in the middle distance, forcing the Suns to double-team. Coach Willie Green exclaimed: "He has murderous aura in his eyes, so I can only let go and see him start killing!"

The more secret transformation ferments on the organizational side.

His average pass per game increased from 38.75 times in the Lakers to 45.6 times, and his assist efficiency doubled. In January 2024, he was double-teamed and scored only 15 points, but gave 8 assists to the director 50 points and 4. When fans regretted his "handed pass", the Pelicans quietly rushed to the seventh place in the Western Conference - 22 wins and 15 losses, which was his awareness of being willing to be the cornerstone.

Breaking out of the cocoon and becoming a butterfly: Controversy and maturity under the iron fist

Growth is accompanied by pain. In 2018, he swung his punch at Paul and caused an uproar and was scolded for being a "white-eyed wolf". When he first entered the league, the defense was scattered, and Walton had to move out 40 Iguodala videos to make up for him. He responded with his actions: in 2024, his defensive interference rate increased, but his turnovers dropped to 2.5 times (the top level among ball holders), and his real shooting percentage climbed to 59%.

When the playoff game was in the life and death, he brought the remaining formation to overturn the Clippers, and when Zion retreated, he carried the team forward, the questioners finally saw clearly that this young man who was so shy that he dared not speak out had tempered the leader's edge in silence.

Today's Ingram stands outside the wildest imagination of scouts back then. He no longer adheres to the label of "Durant Jr.", but he has created a unique game aesthetic with a career-high shooting percentage of 50.2% and a comprehensive performance of 5.5 assists. When Pelicans fans shout "that man", they see not the next person, but Brandon Ingram himself, a silent leader who writes poems with mid-range shots, directs with passes, and builds victory out of the spotlight.

Just as Andre Ingram used ten years of persistence to light up Staples' night sky, Brandon's legend also gradually unfolded in every unsightly leap. The basketball world always needs lone heroes, but real long-lasting power is often born in those times when you lower your head and cultivate.