After being left off the 2024 All-Star ballot, Pelicans swingman Brandon Ingram decided to call out the coaches who failed to vote him as a reserve.
When asked about the results in a chat with Mark Medina, Ingram didn’t hold back with his message to the voters.
“That’s crazy because the coverages from the coaches, they all send double teams at me. Yet, they don’t vote me for All-Star.”
In the East, there were two All-Star injury replacements for Joel Embiid and Julius Randle, but no such replacements are required for the West, and Ingram continues to be on the outside looking in on All-Star weekend. This season, through 47 games, he’s been arguably one of the best wing scorers in the league with averages of 21.7 points, 5.7 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game. After a failed stint in Los Angeles, Ingram has thrived as a Pelican and he’s been among their top two players every season since his arrival back in 2019. As a former 2nd overall pick, Brandon has always had star-level potential and he has shown flashes of All-NBA level play in the past.
Sadly, Ingram just wasn’t good enough to get recognized at All-Star weekend. Besides the Pelicans’ measly record, the competition in the West is just too steep right now for Ingram to make the cut. In fact, Ingram didn’t even crack the top 10 in fan voting. As good as he’s been, B.I. will have to prove himself in the postseason before anybody can really take him seriously as a top-level star in the NBA. But on a Pelicans team that continues to tread water, there are looming questions about his future and what might be in store for his career down the road.
The New Orleans Pelicans Are A Major Disappointment
Brandon Ingram has done his part to bring some success to New Orleans, but the situation hasn’t been ideal for years now. Starting with Zion Williamson, his continued weight struggles and unavailability throughout his career has severely limited his game and it’s limited what the Pelicans have been able to do on the court. This season, at 30-21, the Pelicans have been pretty decent as a team but they aren’t on the same level as other Western Conference contenders. At 6th in the West, New Orleans is on the verge of another underwhelming campaign and the signs are stronger than ever that something is about to give.
While the Pelicans let the trade deadline come and go without any major changes, Zion or even Ingram could end up on the chopping block depending on how they finish this season. If made available, teams like the Warriors, Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers would be among the most aggressive suitors but half the teams in the league would make a run for his services. For now, the Pelicans are still holding out hope in this group and they aren’t ready to give up on their potential as a potential Finals team. But if they don’t get results soon, the Pelicans could opt for some serious adjustments, and not even Ingram will be off the table. Until then, the Pelicans will keep fighting to prove themselves and keep their team together for as long as they can. Currently only 5.5 games out of first place, New Orleans isn’t too far off from contention and they might be able to get there with one or two moves in the right direction.
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