Early season awards for the Los Angeles Lakers

Most Valuable Player

Given how many contributors the Los Angeles Lakers have this season compared to last year, this was probably the second-toughest award to choose. Multiple players have been the catalyst behind Lakers wins, and each has put up their fair share of underwhelming performances. But across the board, Brandon Ingram has been the most consistent all-around player for the Lakers this season.

Ingram has become the Lakers’ leading scorer in recent days at 16.2 points per game, grabs over five rebounds per game and dishes out almost three assists per game. We expected Ingram to score at that high of a clip, but I’ve been impressed with how quickly he is learning how to use his length to get to the rim any time he wants.

His shooting percentages of 45.3 percent from the field and 31.7 percent from the 3-point line aren’t the most efficient, but he affects the game in other ways when his shot isn’t falling. Ingram has taken on more ball-handling responsibilities this season, and is often tasked with running the crunch-time offense.

Ingram is also Los Angeles’ best wing defender, and spends time guarding all five positions. He’s active in the paint, using his length to disrupt shots and passes. His competitiveness has seen him welcome the challenge of checking the opposing team’s best scorer late in games.

Next: 2017-18 Week 9 NBA Power Rankings

Ingram’s reliability to impact the game when his shot is not falling and responsibility in the clutch gives him the nod over any other Lakers. He is nowhere near a finished product, but is performing adequately with the increased pressure in only his second season.