NBA: 10 players that exceeded expectations in 2019-20

NBA Miami Heat Bam Adebayo (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
NBA Miami Heat Bam Adebayo (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
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NBA
New Orleans Pelicans Brandon Ingram (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans

Coming off a season in which he struggled fitting in with LeBron James, and the fact that he also had to deal with blood clots in the offseason, I don’t think many expected Brandon Ingram to have the best of first seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans. Nevertheless, Ingram will be heading into the offseason with a max extension in sight.

Ingram may not have fit with LeBron, but I don’t think he would’ve made the jump he had this season if he were still on the Lakers. Ingram averaged 24 points, six rebounds, and four assists on 46 percent shooting from the field and 38 percent shooting from 3-point range. Even when Zion Williamson made his debut, Ingram never looked out of place.

That had to make the Pelicans feel great about their decisions during the offseason. Now, though, they need to make another big decision on whether or not to match any offer than Ingram may get on the open market.