Pelicans: Here’s 14 things that defined Brandon Ingram’s first All-Star nod
By Willie Lutz
10. His durag collection is awesome and it couldn’t fit his vibe any better.
Never a fit for the limelight in Los Angeles, Brandon Ingram seems to care less about the flashy things many players around the league collect, like flashy cars, jewelry, or watches (J.J. Redick used to have this obsession in a bad way).
Instead, Ingram owns a collection of roughly 150 durags, a habit that started during his days of growing up in the simple community in his native Kinston, North Carolina.
"“I’m trying to get a sponsorship. I think I got to put it on Instagram or something,” Ingram told Michael Lee of The Athletic about his durag obesssion."
There’s something charming about Ingram’s habit for the accessory, as his humble, laid-back demeanor never fit with the look-centric Los Angeles scene.
11. Brandon Ingram hates flopping.
Speaking to media members as a part of All-Star Weekend in Chicago, Ingram expressed his discontent with the proliferation of players around the league awkwardly contorting their body to draw the attention of referees.
Brandon Ingram said if he could change one thing about the NBA, he would raise the fine on flopping. pic.twitter.com/TY1KyPHlKB
— Christian Clark (@cclark_13) February 15, 2020
While we don’t know anything about the relationship between the league’s flopper-in-chief in James Harden, the Pelicans’ All-Star certainly seems to have an opinion on the art the Houston Rockets’ star has harnessed into an MVP trophy.
12. “Kevin Dura… I mean Brandon Ingram”
Selected to be a part of Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s team for the 2020 NBA All-Star Game, the thin Ingram was dressed with quite a few kind words from the league’s reigning Most Valuable Player upon the pick.
When selecting the first time All-Star, Giannis said “I’ll be taking a guy who’s having a great season, I played him a couple nights ago, Kevin Dura... I mean Brandon Ingram.”
— Willie Lutz (@willie_lutz) February 7, 2020
The comparisons to Kevin Durant aren’t new, as both possess the same lanky frames that somehow pack enough muscle to allow the forwards to work their way into the paint. However, with Ingram only getting better as a scorer, the comparison holds more truth than ever.
Receiving an All-Star nod from Durant on Twitter in January, Ingram is starting to pick up more praise from a player Pelicans fans hope their first-time All-Star can become in a few seasons.