Los Angeles Lakers: Top 10 moments from 2017-18 NBA season

1. Andre Ingram make his NBA debut

As the season wound down, the drama in the NBA was not centered in Los Angeles. With the Clippers eliminated from the postseason and the Lakers without their first round pick, the final two nights of the season were supposed to be focused on playoff teams and the tanks jockeying for position.

Instead, the Lakers wrenched the NBA spotlight back to themselves with one of the best stories of the year. It began April 9, when the Lakers signed Andre Ingram to a rest-of-year contract. Ingram was the G League’s career leader in 3-pointers made, primarily because at 32 years old, he had yet to play in an NBA game.

Playing the first NBA minutes of his career, Ingram came out firing. He dropped a quick eight points on 2-of-2 shooting, and from there racked up 19 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including 4-of-5 from long range.

The NBA world went nuts, eager to find the best statistic to frame a historic and feel-good night. His debut was compared to a myriad of other star players, and he rightfully received praise for his commitment to his career and his family over the past decade. Even Lakers legend Kobe Bryant spoke up.

Seriously, this top 10 list should have just been videos of Andre Ingram’s life and his realization of his NBA dream. Ingram’s G League salary was around the poverty line, which meant he needed to work as a math tutor on the side to supplement his income. At one point he took a year off to take care of his kids. Luke Walton handed him the game ball for his performance:

Later that night the crew of TNT’s “Inside the NBA” spent an extended period of time interviewing him live, for the moment setting aside big wins by the Wizards and Jazz. Their questions and support were touching, and were part of the emotional wave Ingram rode all night.

Hopefully for Ingram and his NBA dream, the coverage and exposure won’t die down. The Lakers honored him by giving him a chance. The Dodgers did as well, as he threw out the first pitch for a game a few days after the season. Now a team — the Lakers or otherwise — should give him a chance in training camp next fall.

Next: Full two-round 2018 NBA Mock Draft

Whatever happens with the remainder of his career, Andre Ingram — his character, his story, and his NBA debut — are the best moment from a Lakers season full of great ones. Now comes a busy summer before next year and all of the hope and highlights it promises to offer.