Brandon Ingram to Shoot More Threes?

Across the long span of the 2019-2020 season, Brandon Ingram stepped into stardom with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Ingram’s numbers went off the charts in the Crescent City, jumping from 18.3 to 23.8 points, 3 to 4.2 assists and 5.1 to 6.1 rebounds per game. His free throw percentage from 67.5 to 85.1 (notice the italics on 85.1, because that jump is absolutely unfathomable) AND his three point attempts more than tripled from last season, as he went from 1.8 a game to 6.2 (along with an improvement in percentage of 33 to 39.1).

Not only did all of those statistics hike up, his minutes stayed exactly the same. 

Ingram has solidified himself as a star in the NBA and with the contract 5-year, $158 million contract, the Pelicans agreed.

While max contracts are more common nowadays, that type of money doesn’t come around everyday — especially with the cap-hit the league has taken due to the Coronavirus pandemic. There will be expectations for players who earn that kind of money, and that is ascension to superstardom. 

For Ingram, part of that ascension includes taking more shots — specifically from the three point line. 

In a recent media session, the Kinston, North Carolina native said, “(The coaching staff) wants me to shoot more threes. … I’ll shoot however many of them I feel (is appropriate in each game).”

For frame of reference players that are generally thought of being in the echelon above Ingram in player rankings, like Paul George (eight), Jayson Tatum (seven) and Bradley Beal (8.4) all shot more threes per game than Ingram this previous season. 

With the increase in volume, though, Ingram will need to make another statistical jump in percentage this coming season as well. While 39.1% is a hell of a lot better than 33%, that jump above 40% will do plenty for his superstar status. Plus, a bump in scoring never hurts. Pushing 27 points a game would place BI ninth in scoring last season, between Kawhi Leonard and Devin Booker in scoring — not bad company.