Why you can’t blame Brandon Ingram for all Team USA’s failures

Brandon Ingram didn’t have the best 2023 FIBA World Cup experience, but the New Orleans Pelicans All-Star is not to blame for Team USA’s failure.

Coach Steve Kerr and Team USA will have to shoulder the burdens of defeat without staining Brandon Ingram’s jersey after a 113-111 semi-final defeat to Germany. Surprisingly, Team USA will still meet Team Canada’s superstar-led squad after all. It’ll just be in the third-place consolation game instead of for the title of World Champions.

Ingram didn’t have the best 2023 FIBA World Cup experience, but the New Orleans Pelicans All-Star is not to blame for Team USA’s failure. Ingram was not even on the court for the semi-final loss to Germany as he was inactive due to an upper respiratory illness. His absence should not have been the difference maker in playing for Gold or Bronze, but Team USA was a disjointed mess in the biggest moments all tournament.

Ingram was asked to change up his game to play the ‘Team USA Carmelo Anthony role’ and never looked comfortable. Josh Hart, who JJ Redick says can shapeshift roles easier due to NBA experiences, replaced Ingram in the starting lineup midway through the FIBA World Cup. The theory was that by playing with reserves, Ingram could play more to his strengths. But in practice, all that happened though was Ingram’s skills were diminished even more.

Team USA’s offense got stagnant at times, with Jalen Brunson and Anthony Edwards playing too much isolation ball. Tyrese Haliburton seemed more effective in initiating offense for others, but Ingram never got a real chance to show off his expanded passing repertoire. Team USA was not getting second chances either, as Ingram had more rebounds than starting center Jaren Jackson Jr. (now you see why he starts next to Steven Adams).

There does not seem to be much to benefit for Brandon Ingram to play in the 3rd place consolation game. Respiratory infections are no joke, and NBA training camps start in just a few weeks. Ingram’s corner has to be asking themselves: Why risk further damage to reputation and injury for a team that did not appreciate the skill set just to get more blame heaped on his name?