Ranking the top 50 NBA players of the 2021-2022 season: 50-41

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 29: LaMelo Ball #2 of the Charlotte Hornets dribbles between Malcolm Brogdon #7 and Myles Turner #33 of the Indiana Pacers during the third quarter of their game at Spectrum Center on January 29, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

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Top 50 NBA players ranked: 41. Brandon Ingram

Previous Ranking: 30

After making his first All-Star appearance and being named the Most Improved Player in the league, Brandon Ingram skyrocketed up last season’s preseason rankings. This season did not go nearly as smoothly for the wing or the team as a whole. Now Ingram (along with Zion Williamson) will be playing with a revamped core and another new head coach.

For all intents and purposes, Ingram was the same or better from a statistical standpoint. This season he averaged 23.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists on .466/.381/.878 shooting splits. His rebounding dropped, but that was to be expected given Williamson’s emergence and the addition of Steven Adams. The truly disappointing factor is the general deterioration of his defense. His defensive rating got more than three points per 100 possessions worse and the eye test reflected that.

Ingram simply has to be better for the Pelicans to make it into the postseason with their young duo. There may be some hard feelings after Lonzo Ball departed. Ingram stumped publicly for Ball to return but instead, he signed with the Bulls and New Orleans recouped Tomas Satoransky and Garrett Temple. This will put even more of the scoring burden on the two young All-Stars.

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