Grayson Allen says former Duke teammate Brandon Ingram looks noticeably ‘bigger’
Grayson Allen said Brandon Ingram looks stronger following his pre-draft workout with the Lakers.
The Los Angeles Lakers worked out six more players on Friday as they continue their preparations for the 2018 NBA draft and by far the biggest name at the training facility was Duke’s Grayson Allen, who also happens to be a former teammate of Lakers forward Brandon Ingram.
Allen spent four years with the Blue Devils, one of which he spent playing alongside Ingram. While Ingram himself wasn’t present at Allen’s workout, Allen got the chance to catch up with his former teammate when Ingram went back and visited his alma mater earlier this month.
“I told him he looks bigger,” Allen said (via Bill Oram of the OC Register). “He put some weight on, his shoulders are broader. He looks like he’s not being pushed around anymore which, obviously, he’s come a long way. When he came into Duke he was super skinny but he looks like he’s put some good weight on. He looks pretty big.”
Ingram has been in the gym with Micah Lancaster of “I’m Possible Training” for the past few weeks. Lancaster has previously worked with Kyrie Irving and most recently Victor Oladipo, who made a major leap last summer thanks in no small part to Lancaster.
Lakers fans got an inside look at what Ingram has been working with Lancaster on Thursday in a video posted by “I’m Possible Training” and it looks intense.
However, Ingram’s training with Lancaster looks more skill based than anything. The bulk of Ingram’s weight training will likely be handled by the Lakers’ in-house strength coach Gunnar Peterson, who told Lakers reporter Mike Trudell earlier this month that Ingram is already pretty strong and went as far as comparing him to a former league MVP.
“Brandon is way stronger than he looks. You don’t have to be built like Karl Malone to be strong. There are thinner guys who are really strong. Kevin Durant, who I used to work with, has real strength to his body. And Brandon is no stranger to the weight room. He does everything we ask of him and more. He’s a worker. If you look at pictures of him from his rookie year to the end of this year, you’ll see a noticeable difference.
Whoever he’s working with, Ingram looks like he’s on track for a breakout season with the Lakers both physically and skill-wise. It’s going to be a long five months until we see get to see Ingram on the floor again, but it looks like it will be worth the wait.
You can follow Christian Rivas on Twitter at @RadRivas.