Los Angeles Lakers: Brandon Ingram quietly entering Most Improved Player race

Based on his immense growth so far this season, Los Angeles Lakers forward Brandon Ingram deserves a spot in the early 2017-18 Most Improved Player discussion.

At the beginning of the 2017-18 season, there were two Los Angeles Lakers players regularly mentioned as major award candidates. Obviously there was the Lonzo Ball for Rookie of the Year. Jordan Clarkson also garnered attention as a potential Sixth Man of the Year.

Not much stock, however, was put into Brandon Ingram as a candidate for Most Improved Player. Well, after what we’ve seen through the first quarter of the campaign, I’m a firm believer that he has quietly entered the race for the honor.

Now that’s not to say that he’s a frontrunner — he isn’t. Not yet, at least. However, what we’ve seen from him is steady progress across the board over the last couple of months. Every week or so it seems, he gets just a little better. After a rough rookie season, Ingram is learning from his mistakes and starting to show some of that star power that got him drafted No. 2 overall.

Coming out of Duke, we knew Ingram could be an offensive spark plug for the Lakers. Unfortunately, he struggled to show much in his first year. Then again, how much could we really have expected from a 19-year-old?

Actually… Lonzo Ball may have some thoughts on that. I take it back.

Related Story: Lakers' dream trade targets before 2018 deadline

Still, it was wrong to expect stardom from Ingram right off the bat. Lakers fans have learned that the hard way over the last year and a half or so. Now, as a sophomore, he’s finally starting to tease some of that limitless potential that draft pundits raved about before Los Angeles took him off the board only two offseasons ago.

The shooting is still a work in progress, but it’s been better. As of Dec. 15, Ingram is shooting 44.3 percent from the field, 31 percent from downtown and 67.2 percent from the charity stripe this season.

Compare those numbers to last year’s 40.2 percent, 29.4 percent and 60.1 percent. Even his true shooting percentage is up from 47.4 percent to 50.7 percent. Those aren’t astronomical improvements, but improvements nonetheless.

What I really like that’s been a big change this season, though, is Ingram’s killer instincts. Now serving as the Lakers’ top playmaker on offense, he’s excelled at driving to the basket and connecting on contested shots. The field goals are falling more consistently, and he’s routinely putting up huge efforts.

Sure, they haven’t all been great. Just this past Tuesday, he put up a dud against the New York Knicks, shooting 2-for-12 from the field for a measly five points. He had a couple of similarly sluggish performances in November as well, but the big games are occurring at a much higher rate. That’s helped his scoring average increase by more than six from his rookie season.

In the end, it’s moments like this that have the Lakers and their fans excited:

Or maybe this cold-blooded dagger to seal the deal against the Philadelphia 76ers:

It’s more than just the scoring, though.

In just about every major statistical category, Ingram’s numbers have improved significantly this season. Rebounds? Up from 4.0 to 5.6 per game (6.6 per game so far in December). Assists? Up from 2.1 to 3.0 per game. Even blocks and steals have both gone up 0.3 per game between last year and this year. He’s shown more discipline on defense, and is learning to use that ridiculous length to his advantage. Studying Giannis Antetokounmpo must be paying off.

For a second, though, let’s look past the numbers and focus on Ingram’s presence on game day. This season, he’s not just a rookie with sky-high expectations. No, he’s a rising star who has taken the reins of this franchise and is doing everything in his power to help steer it in the right direction.

That’s why I believe he belongs in the early conversation for Most Improved Player. The growth he’s shown just over the last 26 games has been astounding. With another 56 games to go, there’s no telling where Ingram will end up.

Next: Big NBA names recently added to trade block

If he keeps at his current pace, he’ll give players like Victor Oladipo, Clint Capela and Jaylen Brown a run for their money.