Determined Duke Basketball Product Named NBA Player of the Week

The New Orleans Pelicans (38-37) have reeled off five straight wins, including three on the road, on the back of a sizzling former Duke basketball one-and-done in 25-year-old forward Brandon Ingram.

So it should come as no surprise that the No. 2 overall pick from the 2016 NBA Draft took home NBA Player of the Week honors from the Western Conference on Monday.

Across the three games that counted toward him winning the award, Ingram averaged 31.3 points, 6.3 assists, and 10.0 assists. In the process, he recorded the first triple-double of his seven-year pro career.

And it's worth noting he had a two-game stretch where he dished out 23 assists to only one turnover, totaled 62 points and 15 rebounds, and shot better than 50 percent from the field. Talk about efficiency.

His lowest scoring total in the past two weeks is 26 points. Now, the determined one-time All-Star — also the 2019-20 Most Improved Player — is averaging a career-high 24.0 points for the season.

Antonio Daniels said he spotted Brandon Ingram lifting with a strength coach after Saturday night’s game.

Says BI told the trainer: “Nobody wants this more than I do right now.” pic.twitter.com/0FiJXgPb8L
— Jake Hardee (@pelicansbyjake) March 28, 2023

Thanks to Brandon Ingram's all-around excellence of late, the Pelicans are realistically hunting a playoff appearance, sitting No. 8 in the West standings, one game ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers.

However, they are still without the services of their other Duke basketball product, forward Zion Williamson (hamstring), although he has a chance to return in time for the postseason. Furthermore, they have one of the league's most difficult remaining schedules; all seven opponents have winning records.

At 10 p.m. ET Tuesday (TNT), Brandon Ingram and the New Orleans Pelicans encounter a road bout against the defending champion Golden State Warriors (39-37).

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