Team USA scored another important victory on Sunday, taking down a Giannis Antetokounmpo-less Greece side in a 109-81 blowout. The Americans took one step closer to achieving their objective of winning a gold medal in the FIBA World Cup, but as it turns out, there’s at least one unhappy camper on the squad. This comes in the form of New Orleans Pelicans star Brandon Ingram.
Brandon Ingram Rues Lack of Opportunity With National Squad
After playing just 15 minutes in Team USA’s opener against New Zealand, Ingram admitted that his current situation with the national squad is anything but ideal.
“This is totally different than what I am used to,” Ingram told Joe Vardon of The Athletic. “The team is winning right now, so I can’t be selfish thinking about myself. But it’s a little frustrating right now for me, and I’m just trying to figure out ways I can be effective.”
Ingram went 1-of-4 from the field for two points, two rebounds, three assists, a steal, and two turnovers in his limited run.
The All-Star small forward made it clear, however, that he’s still looking out for what’s best for the team. Team USA still managed to secure a massive win over New Zealand without Ingram’s help, and so long as the squad gets the W, it sounds like he’s willing to make the sacrifice. This doesn’t mean that he won’t be airing his frustration about it, though.
Steve Kerr Speaks Out on Brandon Ingram’s Situation
Ingram played a bit better in Team USA’s second game. He started again versus Greece and this time around, the 25-year-old logged five points on 2-of-4 shooting, three rebounds, two assists, and two turnovers in 18 minutes of play. Despite the slight increase in playing time, however, Ingram still played far less than his average with the Pelicans last season, which was a whopping 34.2 minutes per contest.
Team USA head coach Steve Kerr has now shared thoughts on Ingram’s current conundrum. The Golden State Warriors shot-caller hinted at an increased opportunity for Ingram as the squad progresses to the next stage:
“Nothing has really gone his way,” Kerr said. “He hasn’t had a lot of opportunities, but I think that’ll change. I think his time is coming. He’s just gotta stay with it. The thing I’ve learned with FIBA is every night belongs to someone new. I wouldn’t have guessed that Paolo (Banchero) would be our leading scorer [vs. New Zealand], but all 12 guys are so talented that all it takes is a couple shots to go in, and any one of these guys can get going. I expect that to happen for B.I.”
The Americans will be back in action on Tuesday in their final group-stage game against Italy. We shall see if Ingram gets to make an impact in that one.
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