LOS ANGELES — A platinum chain with diamonds linked to form the words “HUMBLE BEAST” hung from Brandon Ingram’s neck and glistened as he spoke to reporters after a recent preseason game. The shiny, sparkling spectacle felt almost contradictory to what’s known about Ingram — a quiet, unassuming talent whose game and personality are mostly devoid of flash. Ingram had the chain made because he feels those two words, if not the blinding diamonds, capture his attitude toward basketball.

“That’s what I try to label myself as, being humble and not taking anything for granted,” Ingram told Yahoo Sports. “Doing the right things, knowing that I’m a great basketball player, but I don’t have to show it off my mouth. I can show it off my actions. But also having a swagger to myself to go out there, be myself and try to be a beast.”

In his second season with the Los Angeles Lakers, Ingram would prefer to reveal more of his beast side than experience the humbling situations that came to define a rookie campaign in which he averaged 9.4 points, four rebounds and 2.1 assists. Ingram arrived in Los Angeles under some immense pressure as the second overall pick. The Lakers gave Ingram the same locker-room stall that Kobe Bryant used to win five rings and earn two retired jerseys, and pitched him as the future of an organization that has historically been more accustomed to winning championships than undergoing rebuilding efforts.

Though his rookie season left plenty to be desired, Ingram still caught the attention of executives around the league who were looking to steal the prospect from the Lakers’ new front-office brass. Those who expressed interest quickly found out that president of basketball operations Magic Johnson considered untouchable the wiry swingman whose tattoo total might exceed the number that shows up when he steps on the scale. No way could Johnson give up on the player who was always working on his game whenever Johnson looked down from his office at the Lakers’ practice facility.

The Lakers’ commitment and Johnson’s effusive public praise of Ingram have only increased the young forward’s desire to validate their faith in him. Johnson declared that Ingram should average 20 points per game. But when it appeared that Johnson’s assessment would take more time to develop, Ingram began to play as if the joy was gone. Johnson has since eased up on the hype machine and demanded only that Ingram have fun.

In need of a pick-me-up following a preseason performance that fell short of expectations, Ingram glanced down at his cellphone and peeped a text message from his former AAU coach turned mentor turned “uncle.” Jerry Stackhouse, the former NBA star who hails from the same small North Carolina town, routinely checks in on his protégée but tries not to bombard Ingram with more advice than he already gets. On this night, Stackhouse sent a simple reminder to get Ingram, 20, to relax.

View photos Brandon Ingram (L) and Lonzo Ball are expected to be the Lakers’ future. (Getty) More

“My thing, was just, ‘You’re from Kinston. We ain’t never had no problem getting no buckets,’ ” Stackhouse told Yahoo Sports in a phone interview. “I’m like, ‘Stop thinking about it. Clear your mind, go play basketball, do what you’ve done before. Stay off that social media stuff, stop reading that [expletive], and you’ll be good.’ These kids are dealing with a lot at 20. Getting used to having a pocket full of money when you ain’t never had none. He’s on social media, reading all the nonsense that comes with this job. … What if they had that in ’95? I’m glad I ain’t playing now.”

Stackhouse, an 18-year veteran who led Toronto’s development-league affiliate, Raptors 905, to a title last spring has always been around to chime in with encouraging words. But other veterans around the league, such as a fellow slender No. 2 overall pick Kevin Durant — a player with whom Ingram was compared before the draft — have also passed along some wisdom. “[Durant] is always sending me motivational things. Though some things may need to be censored,” Ingram told Yahoo Sports. “He sees a lot in me. He actually told me to block out everything and be the killer that I am. To get a lot of guys around this league that see what I can be, it does nothing but make me want to work harder.”

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