Another Duke basketball standout sees major influx of cash

Another Duke basketball star saw a major influx in cash as Blue Devils continue to get rich.

Cash continues to fill the pockets of former Duke basketball standouts this offseason as yet another Dukie agreed to a max extension.

Brandon Ingram and the New Orleans Pelicans agreed on a five-year, $158 million extension, one season following the former Blue Devils’ trade from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Pelicans, which sent Anthony Davis to L.A.

Ingram, who just turned 23 years old, was in the midst of a career year before the NBA suspended its season, averaging 23.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. The former No. 2 overall pick was named to his first All-Star Game while being named as the NBA’s Most Improved Player.

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ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski was the first to report the extension between Brandon Ingram and the Pelicans. The two parties did not agree on an extension before the forward’s first game with the franchise as the team wanted to see how Ingram would recover from a deep vein thrombosis in his arm.

Ultimately, New Orleans cost itself millions of dollars by not wanting to extend Ingram prior to the 2019-20 season, and consequently, Ingram saw a truckload of more money pile into his bank account.

Brandon Ingram not the first Duke basketball player to have a great offseason

Ingram’s max contract extension comes days after Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics also agreed on a max extension as both players were named to their first All-Star Game last season.

Former Blue Devils such as Jahlil Okafor, Mason Plumlee, Rodney Hood, Harry Giles, and Austin Rivers have all received free-agent contracts worth a life-changing amount of money, but none were close to the amount both Ingram and Tatum received.

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However, while Brandon Ingram will still have Zion Williamson and JJ Redick to take the court with this winter, New Orleans will lose Frank Jackson and Okafor in free agency, breaking up the Bayou Blue Devils that fans grew to love last season.

In his second season with the Pelicans, Ingram will now look to prove that the Pelicans made the right investment in the 6-foot-7 forward from Kinston, North Carolina.