CHICAGO _ The discovery of the blood clot in Brandon Ingram's right shoulder last year while he was a Los Angeles Laker was not a blessing in disguise _ it was just a blessing. Because they discovered it, doctors were able to clear the blockage and prevent it from becoming a more serious issue. He made a full recovery.
The blessing in disguise was that Ingram was forced into a routine.
"Me being injured this summer, I think that helped me just lock in and take advantage of every piece in time that I'm having on the basketball floor. I'm just enjoying every time that I go out there," Ingram said Friday while stopping by the Greater Chicago Food Depository for an NBA Cares event.
Ingram, now a New Orleans Pelicans forward, credits that focus for helping him to develop into an All-Star in his fourth season.
"I'm very excited. I think this is a big accomplishment for me and my family," said Ingram, 22. "A true blessing to me and it just shows the hard work that's been put in through the years of me playing basketball."
Ingram was the second of three consecutive No. 2 overall picks drafted by the Lakers _ all of whom were eventually traded. Lonzo Ball, selected second in 2017, was traded with Ingram in the deal to acquire All-Star forward Anthony Davis. D'Angelo Russell, the second pick in 2015, was traded to Brooklyn in 2017 and also became an All-Star last season.
Ingram was selected as a reserve this year. He has averaged career highs in point with 25, three-point percentage at 40.4%, free throw percentage at 85.6%, rebounds per game at 6.3 and assists per game at 4.3.
"To get back healthy, get back out there and try to develop a routine and try to develop a work ethic in everything that I'm doing on and off the basketball floor," Ingram said of his goals. "To keep my mental straight on and off the basketball floor, how to stay mentally locked in on exactly what I want to do. I always give it to my teammates, the coaches that's around that keep me going every single day."
