Former Duke basketball standout Brandon Ingram revealed some interesting thoughts regarding his pending free agency.
After a career year with the New Orleans Pelicans in his first season with the franchise, Brandon Ingram has some decisions to make regarding his pending free agency following the conclusion of the NBA’s restarted season.
Ingram told reporters that New Orleans will be one of his “top choices” following the season and that it is a “special place with a lot of really, really good people.”
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Following his trade from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Pelicans last summer, the 22-year-old averaged 23.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.0 steals per game en route to his first All-Star Game appearance.
The North Carolina native also shot 46.3 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from 3-point range coming off surgery in which he had a blood clot removed in his shoulder.
Brandon Ingram was also nominated as a finalist for the Most Improved Player Award, but his season has come to an end as head coach Alvin Gentry is sitting some of his top players since the Pelicans are no longer in contention for the NBA playoffs.
New Orleans only has one game left inside the NBA bubble in Orlando, Florida, on Thursday against the Orlando Magic.
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Ingram also has the benefit of playing around four former Duke players in New Orleans in JJ Redick, Zion Williamson, Jahlil Okafor, and Frank Jackson while playing for former Blue Devil and Pelicans General Manager Trajan Langdon.
With Brandon Ingram in the fold, the Pelicans are trying to build their own ‘Big Three’ with the All-Star alongside point guard Lonzo Ball and forward Zion Williamson.
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For the best interest of both parties, it would be smart for New Orleans to keep Brandon Ingram around for the long haul as the rising star has proven he will only continue to get better with more experience in the NBA.