But there are also parts of Ingram’s development that are flying under the radar. Did you know that Ingram is one of the better foul-drawing players at his position (96th percentile)? Did you know he’s improved his accuracy on midrange attempts from 35 percent last season to 42 percent? In the past 10 games, the Lakers offense virtually grinds to a halt when he’s not on the court (from 110.4 points per 100 possessions on the floor to 91.4 when he’s off).There’s also his defense, where Ingram has been asked to defend a wide range of dangerous scorers. Kyrie Irving notably praised Ingram’s use of his 7-foot-3 wingspan when the Lakers beat Boston, saying he was able to close off lanes that the Celtics guard usually can dart down. That versatility has taken time to develop.“When he’s using that length, sometimes the guys won’t even shoot it, or sometimes they’ll airball it,” Keefe said. “He’s learned how to use it.”It’s intriguing that Ingram has become one of the most reliable pillars of the Lakers’ attack after withstanding withering criticism for his play while James was sidelined with a groin injury, when the Lakers went 6-12.There were games when Ingram played brilliantly, besting the Sacramento Kings at home and the Dallas Mavericks on the road. But the losses, as many as there were, had a way of drawing more attention: a no-show in Minnesota and tight home losses to Oklahoma City and New York made plenty question whether Ingram was really poised enough to be one of the foundational pieces of the franchise the Lakers once envisioned.But NBA seasons are like rapids: full of unexpected stops and starts, bumpy and always rushing constantly ahead, ignoring any reasonable sense of pace. Ingram was hit hard early with obstacles: A four-game suspension for his role in a fight with the Houston Rockets at the home opener, and a seven-game stretch he missed with an ankle injury. Tossed in and out of action in the first half of the season, he barely had opportunities to gulp for air, and others’ injuries forced him on and off the ball.Since February began and James has returned, Ingram has had more of a chance to solidify a consistent role. That’s made a huge difference, he said.“Our team was always unbalanced – I was trying to figure out things,” he said. “Now I have a chance to sit back and reflect on how I can be better … how I can be more aggressive, how I can be more effective on the offensive end and defensive end. I just try to come in and apply it. That’s been my M.O. from the first year I’ve been here.”While James spoke of getting activated after the All-Star break, no one has quite kicked it up proportionally like Ingram, who has 111 points over the last four games, the most he’s scored over any such stretch in his career. James might have said it best when a reporter recently mentioned Ingram being his “wingman,” responding: “Nah, he wasn’t a wingman for me. He was special for our team.”Keefe noted that one of his favorite developments was in last week’s win over Houston, when Ingram grabbed 13 rebounds in a scrappy home effort.Related Articles Newsroom GuidelinesNews TipsContact UsReport an Error Trail Blazers beat Grizzlies in play-in, earn first-round series with the Lakers Trail Blazers, Grizzlies advance to NBA play-in game; Suns, Spurs see playoff dreams dashed “He plays a physical style – he’s actually played that way since before he came to us,” he said. “It’s just now that he’s obviously stronger, even though he doesn’t look it.”But one thing the Lakers are not is surprised. Even as others continually draw boxes around Ingram, judging what he can and can’t be, they’ve tried a less limiting approach.It’s paying some dividends now, as the team fights for a playoff berth. But they’re not ready to say this is all they expect to get.“I think he continues to grow as a player, and he’s getting more confident and comfortable getting to his spots and just shooting the shot that he works on in practice all the time,” Lakers head coach Luke Walton said. “We see this all the time in practice. It’s just a matter of time.” By his own description, Brandon Ingram’s 3-point stroke used to look a bit like a “slingshot.”On a recent morning in Memphis, Ingram talked about the years-long process of altering his deep shooting motion, of paring it down with Lakers assistant coach Brian Keefe and making it more reliable. He’s still shooting below 31 percent for the year, but that has risen to nearly 39 percent in the month of February, as has any meaningful statistic for the 21-year-old forward.That morning, he talked about his desire to take more 3-point shots, something Ingram’s critics have been shouting from the rafters for the last two seasons. Later that night, he would go on to hit all three of his 3-point attempts, a surprising stat for a player who hazards just under two long-range shots per game.Do you recognize that others want you to take more 3-pointers, he was asked. Is the criticism a reason why you think you need to do this more? Lakers practice early hoping to answer all questions AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MOREUCLA alum Kenny Clark signs four-year contract extension with Packers“Nah,” he said with a glint of a smile. “That’s for y’all to talk about.”Ingram’s circle is a close one: His teammates, his coaches, his family, and what is said outside that circle doesn’t seem to bother him. On one hand, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 draft is among the most scrutinized and picked-over players on the Lakers, with both devout believers in his game, as well as skeptical detractors. The type of player he is – a lanky scorer whose midrange attempts make analytics devotees cringe – is bound to polarize.But it’s inherently wrong to view Ingram along narratives drawn by anyone outside of the Lakers organization. He’s got his own plans.“That’s the beauty of Brandon to me,” says Keefe, who has worked with Ingram one-on-one for the better part of three years. “Regardless of good game, bad game, he comes in and keeps doing the work. He focuses on the stuff he wants to be great at. And there’s no limiting him.”Ingram’s proposed ceiling seems to be rising again lately, given the February he just had: In nine games, Ingram averaged 21.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists while shooting 50.4 percent from the field. While his second-year counterpart Kyle Kuzma (19.2 ppg) is still the second-leading scorer behind LeBron James, Ingram has slowly ticked his way closer to challenging him: His scoring average has been rising every month since November. 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