The Los Angeles Lakers confirmed reports that they will sign G League veteran and folk hero Andre Ingram to a 10-day contract, and shortly after, the South Bay Lakers put out video of Ingram reacting to the news along with his coaches and teammates.
It is, without exaggeration, the most heartwarming thing you will watch today (or at least the most heartwarming Lakers-related thing):
The genuine happiness Ingram’s teammates showed for him getting a spot on the Lakers’ roster — a spot the whole team is theoretically competing for — is just the latest evidence of how well-liked he is as a teammate and person.
Lakers head coach Luke Walton told reporters at practice on Monday that his similar experience with Ingram — along with the 33-year-old veteran’s shooting skills — were a big part of the reason L.A. chose to call him up:
Walton made no guarantees of how much Ingram will see the floor, but the Lakers offered similar cautions last year before Ingram exploded onto the scene over the final two games of their season.
The bottom line is that this team needs what Ingram offers, both from a chemistry and shooting standpoint, and maybe this is the type of dose of positivity that allows the Lakers to find the energy to play more focused and engaged basketball while they play out the string of what has been a lost season to this point.
Look, it’s possible the Lakers did this (even in part) as a PR boost. Stuff like this will certainly bring a dose of positivity to the perception of the team. But sometimes you can do the right thing for the wrong reasons. Ingram has worked tirelessly for this shot, and regardless of the circumstances he’s getting his chance under, anyone with a functioning human heart can respect the journey he’s taken to get here and hope he takes advantage of his opportunity a second time.
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