On Monday, the NBA officially announced that Brandon Ingram was the winner of the Most Improved Player award. Ingram put together a sterling fourth year with the New Orleans Pelicans, averaging 23.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists, all career-best marks. The biggest improvement, though, came on his three-point shot where he knocked down 39.1% of his attempts, a career-high mark, while attempting 384 three-pointers on the year, two less than he attempted in his previous three years combined.
Ingram was informed that he won the award by his parents on a Zoom call that also included Pelicans owner Gayle Benson and teammate Lonzo Ball.
The moment @B_Ingram13 found out he won the NBA's Most Improved Player Award ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/bNsQMfOKfi
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) August 31, 2020
Though the vote was still relatively close, Ingram won with 42 first-place votes. Ingram’s 326 points were 31 more than second-place Bam Adebayo of the Heat.
Dallas’ Luka Doncic was a distant third with 101 points, accounting for 12 first-place votes. Boston’s Jayson Tatum received three first-place votes, Devonte’ Graham of the Hornets had two and the Raptors’ Pasal Siakam and Fred Van Vleet and Detroit’s Christian Wood each had one.
Ball has been one of Ingram’s most ardent supporters and, as noted by Benson, has been alongside Ingram every step of the way. The two would regularly hit the gym together on nights before games and Ball was as outspoken as any for Ingram to be named an All-Star this season, an honor he would receive.