While it was reported prior to his decision that LeBron James was reluctant to join the Lakers as the lone star, James made the call to join the Lake Show even as Paul George stayed in Oklahoma City and the Spurs remained reluctant to trade Kawhi Leonard.

But there’s one player on the Lakers roster that James already believes can be a star next year, according to ESPN’s Zach Lowe. That player is Brandon Ingram.

He knows Ingram has at least borderline All-Star potential, and that the 2019 free-agency class is loaded beyond Leonard. He has faith in the combined powers of his supernova talent and the Lakers brand.

Ingram’s game grew in several areas during the 2017-18 campaign. Most notably, his 3-point percentage jumped 10 percentage points from 29 percent to 39. That helped him improve his efficiency in spot-up opportunities .929 points per possession in his rookie year to 1.089 this past season. That improvement put him in the 76th percentile among spot-up players up from the 43rd, according to Synergy Sports.

Ingram’s improvement as a spot-up player, as well as his work as a lead creator over the past two seasons, have set him up for a potentially big season alongside LeBron. Whether James posts-up or isolates, Ingram will get plenty of opportunities to attack the defense.

And maybe that’s what James sees in him. Pair his improving offensive game with his nearly 7-foot frame and long arms, that could give James a dimension he hasn’t had over his past few years in Cleveland.

Ingram is only two months away from his 21st birthday, so he’s just scratching the surface. The Lakers and James are right to be patient with a player who is on the cusp of stardom. And the Spurs would be right to wait and push for his inclusion in any deal for Leonard.

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