The New Orleans Pelicans Just Secured Their All-Star for the Next 5 Years
The New Orleans Pelicans recently secured their All-Star for the next five years. That’s right, Brandon Ingram will be sticking around in New Orleans for a while. The former No. 2 overall pick had an impressive 2020 season with the Pelicans and gave the organization something to look forward to in the future.
When free agency started, it was only a matter of time until Ingram would finalize a deal with the Pelicans. Now he will be getting paid, and he’ll continue to play at a high-level.
The Pelicans got a talented player in Brandon Ingram
When the Pelicans traded away their star in Anthony Davis, they received some young and talented players. Ingram was one of those players. Before he joined the Pelicans, Ingram was a rising star for the LA Lakers. At 6-foot-7, Ingram is a high-volume scorer. He can use his size and length to create shots and get to the rim. Ingram also knows how to finish through contact. During his rookie season in LA, Ingram averaged 9.4 points and four rebounds.
Ingram saw more playing time after his rookie season and became a starter for the Lakers. He made significant improvements in his second and third year and became one of the top scorers on the team. During the 2018-19 season, Ingram averaged 18.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and three assists. He established himself as one of the most talented young players in the NBA.
In 2017 and 2018, Ingram appeared in the Rising Stars Challenge. Ingram displayed NBA talent during his time at Duke, and when he entered the league, he showed why he deserved to be in the league. But Ingram’s time with the Lakers was cut short when they traded him to the Pelicans. But that didn’t stop Ingram from playing at a high-level.
Brandon Ingram making his first All-Star appearance with the Pelicans
When Ingram joined the Pelicans, he immediately became one of the top players on a young team. Ingram led the Pelicans in scoring in his first year with the team as he averaged 23.8 points. He also was selected to his first All-Star team, and to top it all of, he won the NBA’s Most Improved Player award.
In his fourth NBA season, Ingram showed a lot of maturity and took on a leadership role with the Pelicans. Ingram helped lead the Pelicans to the NBA bubble as they competed for a playoff spot. Even though the Pelicans did not make the playoffs, Ingram played at a high-level during the bubble and gave Pelicans fans something to look forward to for the future.
Brandon Ingram signed a five-year extension with the Pelicans
Ingram became the latest player to sign an extension with a team during the offseason. According to ESPN, Ingram agreed to a five-year, $158 million maximum contract extension, his agents, Jeff Schwartz and Jordan Gertler of Excel Sports, told ESPN’s, Adrian Wojnarowski. Ingram definitely proved his worth in his first season with the Pelicans, and it’s evident that the organization does not want to let him go.
The Pelicans have made other moves in the offseason as well. New Orleans is set to acquire Steven Adams and Eric Bledsoe. Going into the 2020-21 season, the Pelicans will look to compete for a playoff spot, and Ingram will look to capitalize on a productive 2019-20 season.
