Fansided

25-under-25: The best of the rest

By Philip Rossman-Reich

MILWAUKEE, WI - FEBRUARY 29: Jabari Parker #12 drives to the basket and throws the ball off the backboard for Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the game against the Houston Rockets on February 29, 2016 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - FEBRUARY 29: Jabari Parker #12 drives to the basket and throws the ball off the backboard for Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the game against the Houston Rockets on February 29, 2016 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Brandon Ingram, Los Angeles Lakers, LA Clippers
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 7: Brandon Ingram #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots against the Los Angeles Clippers on July 7, 2017 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /

29. Brandon Ingram, Los Angeles Lakers

Everyone in Las Vegas for NBA Summer League was focused on Lonzo Ball and his debut when the Los Angeles Lakers began play. What they ended up getting was perhaps a preview of what was going to come from the team’s probable future star.

Brandon Ingram was the real star of that game, scoring 26 points before a cramp in his leg shut him down for the rest of the week. Before that injury in overtime, Ingram was clearly the best player on the court. Lakers President of Basketball Operation Magic Johnson did not even have to make the signal to sit him down and shut him down for the rest of the trip to Vegas, everyone had seen enough.

In those brief minutes in a relatively meaningless Summer League game, Ingram showed all the athleticism and drive that he had sometimes been slow to show in his rookie year. The frail rookie had been replaced with a poised veteran.

Everyone is expecting Ingram to greatly improve on his 9.4 points per game and 40.2 percent shooting. The focus will remain on Lonzo Ball and his development this summer — his father will almost make sure of that — but Brandon Ingram will be the real budding star for the Lakers this coming season. He seems poised for a big sophomore leap, as most second-year players are.

But it feels different for Ingram. At least, based off one Summer League game. The attention in Los Angeles should not just be on the Balls. Ingram is going to grab the spotlight too.

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