I totally thought that Brandon Ingram was getting marginalized this season, but I went out to my favoritest favorite website ever, basketball-reference, to check out the stats and it turns out that his stats are pretty similar to last year’s. He’s actually averaging .2 field goal attempts per game MORE than last season, in one fewer minute. I was all ready to rip Jabroni Lames a new one for marginalizing the guy who was supposed to be the future of the Lakers, but those plans had to be put on hold once these new facts came to light.
Maybe if we extend the scope of the concept of “marginalization”, Ingram can still fall under that umbrella. Obviously he’s not getting marginalized statistically, but in terms of role, he might still be. LeBum Shames is obviously the leader of this team (he is, after all, the second GOAT after Kareem), a role that could have fallen to Ingram if LeBum weren’t on the team. Now the development of Ingram’s team-leading ability is delayed by a few seasons.
So, yeah, can we stop marginalizing Brandon Ingram now?