Why Brandon Ingram’s Play Shows Philadelphia 76ers Made Right Choice

Why Brandon Ingram‘s rookie season shows that the Philadelphia 76ers made the correct decision taking Ben Simmons with the top pick of the 2016 NBA draft.

Before the Philadelphia 76ers selected Ben Simmons with the top of the 2016 NBA draft, 76ers fans debated. Should the 76ers choose Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram? Ingram had the reputation as a better shooter than Simmons. That shooting, many argued, would help the 76ers more than Simmons passing. And so, perimeter shooting versus versatility became a main argument from people who believed Ingram was the correct pick.

Brandon Ingram shot 40 percent from behind the three-point line. And from that distance, he converted 41 percent of them during his one season at Duke. That made it quite easy to envision Ingram making open threes anytime the opposing defense chose to double Joel Embiid.

Did Injury Reopen Debate?

Did Ben Simmons slow healing foot injury that will cause him to miss the entire 2016-17 season reopen that debate? After all, Ingram played in all of the Los Angeles Lakers’ 71 games. Would the 76ers have been better off taking Ingram instead of Simmons?

"“It’s possible Ingram does become a better player than Simmons. If you draft Ingram over Simmons, you are betting that Ingram will improve his passing, ball handling, ability to draw fouls, and rebounding. You also are betting that Simmons will never learn how to shoot.Ingram is a year younger than Simmons, but is one year really enough time to catch up to Simmons in almost every skill that doesn’t involve shooting?”"

Indeed.

More Evidence Is In

The previous quote is from an article I wrote before the 2016 draft. In that article, I explained why the Sixers should take Simmons over Ingram. Now, with more than 75 percent of his rookie season over, Ingram hasn’t done anything to change my view. I still believe that Simmons will be a better player.

Most of my belief in Simmons play falling significantly better than Ingram springs from watching them both play in college. And yet, Ingram’s below average play for the second overall pick in his draft helps reinforce my confidence in Simmons despite his major injury.

Through 71 games Ingram is averaging 9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.5 blocks, 0.5 steals, and 1.5 turnovers per game while playing 29.3 minutes per game. When you compare Ingram’s production to the second overalls picks in the 2015, 2014, and 2013 drafts, it becomes clear that Ingram is under-performing expectations.

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Ingram’s teammate and second pick in the 2015 draft D’Angelo Russell averaged 13.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.2 blocks, 1.2 steals, and 2.5 turnovers while playing 28.2 minutes per game during his rookie season.

While 2014’s second overall pick Jabari Parker only played in 25 games during his rookie season, he averaged 12.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.2 blocks, and 1.9 turnovers per game while playing 29.5 minutes per game. Even 2014’s mostly disappointing draft that saw one of the worst players to be taken with the top pick in NBA history in Anthony Bennett managed to produce a player that had a better freshman season with it’s second pick than Ingram in Victor Oladipo. Oladipo averaged 13.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 0.5 blocks, 1.6 steals, and 3.2 turnovers in 31.1 minutes per game.

MIA: Ingram’s Three-Point Shot

While Ingram has under-performed across the board this season, his poor three-point shooting is his biggest disappointment. Ingram has only made 52 of the 177 three-pointers he has taken this season.

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Let’s investigate the 21 rookies that are part of NBA.com’s three-points percentage – although Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and his 31 percent accuracy is not on this list for some reason. Ingram’s 29 percent currently puts him at 20 only one percent more than last place Andrew Harrison. Ingram’s three-point percentage is better than Parker’s 25 percent three-point shooting during his rookie season. But you cannot ignore that it’s worse than Russell’s 35 percent and Oladipo’s 33 percent three-point shooting during their rookie seasons.

Truth be told, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot appears to have a more accurate shot from the perimeter.

Not A Bust, But Not A Boon Either

It’s far too early consider Ingram a bust. Rookies have learning curves. And Ingram has managed to score at least ten points in 13 of the 18 games. He’s been improving since becoming the staring small forward for the Lakers on February 6.

Still, I just can’t see him living up to the hype of being next the Kevin Durant. Durant averaged 20.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.4 rebounds, 0.9 blocks, 1 steal, and 2.9 turnovers per game during his rookie season and averaged 8.5 more points per game during his one year at college than Ingram, so the Durant comparison was an unrealistic expectation for Ingram.

A more realistic expectation for Ingram is Rudy Gay with slight more potential since he entered the NBA a year younger than Gay. Gay has averaged 18.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.8 blocks, 1.3 steals, and 2.4 turnover per game during his over 10 year career, so comparing Ingram to him shouldn’t be considered an insult. But I see Simmons as a poor man’s LeBron James, and even a lesser version of James is much than an improved version of Gay.

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After having to wait at least one year to see Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid, and Dario Saric play, it sucks that Sixers’ fans have to go through this again with Ben Simmons. But based on Ingram’s performance and Simmons’ potential, no fan should have drafter’s remorse.