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2017 NBA Rookie Ladder: Is Brandon Ingram A Future Star?

By Nathan Grubel

Nov 29, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Brandon Ingram (14) defended by New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Brown (21) during the first quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Brandon Ingram (14) defended by New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Brown (21) during the first quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 20, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) drives against New York Knicks center Willy Hernangomez (14) during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. New York Knicks won 104-94. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) drives against New York Knicks center Willy Hernangomez (14) during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. New York Knicks won 104-94. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

10. Willy Hernangomez, New York Knicks

He’s by no means the flashiest guy on the New York Knicks. What Willy Hernangomez does do, however, are the little things that provide quality depth.

Hernangomez gets steady playing time off the Knicks bench, averaging 13.5 minutes per game on the year.

Let’s get something out of the way here though. It’s going to take him time to develop any sort of actual post game or defensive awareness.

He doesn’t block a ton of shots or back people down and finish with a few fancy moves on the block. But he’s a solid option off the bench because he takes advantage of easy opportunities.

Hernangomez is a good pick-and-roll option for the second unit. When he catches the ball down low he’s able to swing around and finish. There’s no problem with his athleticism, it’s his instincts that are still raw.

His 5.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game aren’t life-changing.

What is telling though is his 15.41 PER that’s above the league average of 15. It’s harder for big men to adjust to the NBA because of the speed of the game. Hernangomez’s transition has gone well, so that’s a huge plus for New York.

As long as he’s able to continue to do the small things that matter, he’ll get minutes. The Knicks are thin on the bench, so any minutes he can give them is huge.