NEW ORLEANS — As Brandon Ingram contemplated how long it’s been since his last triple-double, he couldn’t help but blurt out the first thought that came to mind.
“I definitely didn’t have one in college,” he said. “I didn’t pass the basketball in college.”
It was a quick moment of brevity but also an acknowledgment of how much his mindset has evolved over the years.
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When he was younger, Ingram devoted most of his attention to putting the ball in the basket. It’s what he does best.
But as he matured, he learned the importance of controlling the game in multiple ways. It’s something he’s improved during each of his first seven seasons in the NBA.
His growth and his importance to this New Orleans Pelicans squad were on full display again as he registered his first career triple-double in a 115-96 beatdown of the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday night.
He finished with 30 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, becoming the first player in franchise history to record a 30-point triple-double since DeMarcus Cousins.
Considering how easily he racked up those numbers against Charlotte, several of Ingram’s teammates admitted it was somewhat shocking that it took him so long to reach this milestone.
But none of them are surprised to see how much his all-around game has gone up at a point in the season when his team needs him most.
“I think it speaks to his maturity throughout this process,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “He understands that he’s going to have the ball in his hands at times. He’s doing a great job of setting the tone with his (quick passing), just getting the ball to his teammates. Rebounding has been huge for us; he’s doing that. And we know he can score at any minute.
“On all three levels tonight, he was fantastic.”
With only nine games left in the regular season, the Pelicans understand that they need to be in “must-win” mode every time they step on the court. After winning the last three games, New Orleans is in a four-way tie with Dallas, Oklahoma City and the Los Angeles Lakers at 36-37. Only two games separate No. 6 Golden State and No. 12 Utah in the Western Conference.
When things are this tight and the stakes are this high, the main factor that sets teams apart is the play of their stars.
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Ingram showed again on Thursday night that he’s ready for the moment. While this season hasn’t given the Pelicans many reasons for optimism, Ingram’s presence will be the primary source of hope as this team moves forward.
In these last three wins, Ingram is averaging 29.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 8.7 assists as control of the offense has been steered more in his direction.
Beating up on Houston, San Antonio and Charlotte in the last three outings isn’t exactly a crowning achievement, but every win matters. And more importantly, the Pelicans feel these games have allowed them to reclaim their identity heading into the most important road trip of the season.
Over the next seven days, New Orleans will play road games against the LA Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers, Warriors and Denver Nuggets. Racking up a few wins against the worst teams in the league was the remedy it needed after hitting rock bottom against the Lakers last week, but now the real test begins.
Are the Pelicans ready to exorcise their demons and earn a spot in the postseason the same way they did last season? To get there, they’ll have to take down some legitimate playoff teams.
It’ll be on Ingram to lead his team into some of these hostile environments and lift them when things seem dire. His breakout performance against Phoenix in the first round of last year’s playoffs was the shining moment of Ingram’s career to this point. This four-game stretch may turn out to be an even greater challenge.
“We’ve got some tough ones coming up. We’ve got to come out with the same mentality, same focus (and) same aggressiveness,” Jonas Valanciunas said. “We like what we’re doing on the court. We’re enjoying basketball. That takes care of offense and defense – and winning.”
Ingram has put up some spectacular numbers as of late, but the nuance in his game has truly stood out. He’s starting to control the Pelicans’ offense more than he ever has before.
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As New Orleans has started to emphasize CJ McCollum as an off-ball threat more often, Ingram has been the orchestrator of the offense increasingly in half-court sets, and he’s looked extremely comfortable with those responsibilities.
In the first quarter of Thursday’s win, Ingram scored or assisted on 31 of his team’s 37 points. He easily got to his favorite spots on the floor for his patented jump shots. When the defense converged on him, he calmly found his teammates for open looks.
He never looked rushed or as if he was trying to force the issue. It only took him three quarters to reach 30 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
While his production was vital, his decision-making also was a big part of his career night. Along with the triple-double, Ingram also finished with zero turnovers. It was just the fourth game of his career with 30-plus points and no turnovers.
For most players, when their usage goes up, their efficiency suffers. Ingram will be tasked with finding a balance between being a high-volume shot creator and being the person who keeps the offense running on schedule.
“I think he can do it every night. I have those talks with (Ingram) before every game. I really feel like he’s capable of doing that every night,” Naji Marshall said of Ingram’s triple-double. “Hopefully, this is the start of something great.”
As his game has improved over the years, Ingram’s passing has gone from something he’s done reluctantly to one of the most potent weapons in his arsenal.
As he’s learned to play without Zion Williamson over the last two seasons, Ingram has grown more comfortable dealing with defenses sending multiple bodies at him and finding ways to punish them.
But he isn’t just finding the open man when he gets doubled. He’s shown tremendous improvement with his anticipation and being one step ahead of the defense.
He’s the best passer on the team, manipulates defenders with his eyes and puts his teammates in the right spots to take advantage of defenses loading up on him.
Over the last seven games, he’s averaging 7.1 assists. Shifting more of the offense to him has allowed McCollum to play a role that fits him better and makes him more efficient with the shots he’s getting.
In last year’s playoffs, Ingram showed he’s among the league’s brightest up-and-coming stars. But the key to reaching the next level is his continued growth as a distributor and learning how to use that part of his game to complement his elite scoring prowess.
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“I’m just trying to give guys confidence. (I’m) making sure that they feel comfortable on the floor,” Ingram said. “Everybody’s gotta be effective on the offensive end. That’s what I’m making sure I do every time I step on the floor — just making sure everybody knows what they’re doing.”
The road ahead will be a dark and treacherous one for New Orleans. This four-game road trip will be the biggest challenge of the season. Every night will bring a new surprise as nine teams battle over the final seven spots in the Western Conference playoff field. And the mystery surrounding Williamson’s eventual return drags on for another couple of weeks.
But if Ingram keeps playing the way he has, the Pelicans have a shot at beating the odds and saving their season. Above all, star players provide what all teams need during this time of the year: hope.
“We go with him. However he goes, that’s what we do. … He plays a heavy role on this team,” Marshall said. “We’ll go as far as he takes us.”
(Photo of Brandon Ingram: Layne Murdoch Jr. / NBAE via Getty Images)
Will Guillory is a staff writer for The Athletic, covering the New Orleans Pelicans. Before joining The Athletic, he was a writer at The Times-Picayune/NOLA Media Group, and he's been on the Pelicans beat since 2016. He is a New Orleans native. Follow William on Twitter @WillGuillory
