LeBron James heaps praise on Brandon Ingram: ‘Kid has a lot of talent’

LeBron James, arguably the greatest player of his generation, has kind words for Los Angeles Lakers rookie Brandon Ingram, who went toe-to-toe with the Cleveland Cavaliers superstar on Sunday. After the Cavs escaped the Staples Center with a 125-120 win, against a young and hungry Lakers squad, James heaped praise on Ingram, who was drafted No. 2 overall by Los Angeles during last year's NBA Draft.

"Kid (Brandon Ingram) has a lot of talent. The more he plays, the more and more he is going to get more comfortable out there. He has the in between game, can handle the ball. He shot a couple long balls tonight and that worked for him too," James told Laker Nation's Serena Winters.

Though the Lakers lost on Sunday, they came away looking like a team with a bright future, leading the Cavs for most of the game until a fourth quarter meltdown. James, for one, was very impressed. "They don't look like a team that's only won 20 games."

Brandon Ingram beginning to hit his straps

After a slow start to his rookie season, Ingram has grown from strength-to-strength since the All-Star break. In the month of March, the former Duke standout is averaging 12.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.0 steals while shooting an impressive .510 from the field. Though his three-point shooting remains suspect, Ingram is beginning to hit deep perimeter shots with relative ease -- something that was absent from his game during the earlier half of the season.

When Ingram entered the NBA, analysts expected the wiry teenager to struggle through his first few seasons due to his lack of muscle mass and inability to absorb contact in the paint. Also, Ingram's passive attitude was highlighted during prolonged shooting slump in the months of November and December when Ingram shot less than 35 percent from the floor and was often hesitant to drive to the basket against bigger defenders.

It seems like Ingram is finally blossoming into the player that the Lakers projected him to be, when they drafted him No. 2 overall during last year's draft. Though Ingram still hasn't shown the potential to be the next franchise player, the Lakers expect him to be a steady presence and an integral member of the young core going forward. Brandon Ingram is averaging 8.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists in his rookie season. Though Ingram isn't in the running to win Rookie of the Year, he is expected to make the All-Rookie First Team at the end of the season.