Pelicans Forward Brandon Ingram Needs 'To Be Aggressive' To Break Out Current Slump

The last seven games haven't been kind to Brandon Ingram who is shooting in one of the worst slumps of his career.

New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram has been in a slump for the past seven games. December 31 against the Los Angeles Lakers was the last time Ingram scored 20 points. The Pelicans are 4-3 in that stretch when Ingram plays. B.I. missed a game against the Mavs on January 13. Still, Ingram's play must improve for New Orleans to take the next step and contend in the Western Conference.

From the beginning of the season until December 31, Ingram was shooting 50.1% from the field, which would be a career-high and 34.7% from beyond the arc. After the calendar flipped to 2024, those numbers dipped to 42.3%, the lowest since his rookie year, and 29.4% from beyond the arc. Ingram's slump goes beyond just missing shots, he's not been aggressive enough in taking them.

Dec 23, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) dribbles against Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks (9) during the first half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

The Pelicans have had a couple of blowout victories this calendar year, so Ingram has sat in a couple of fourth quarters. However, the other games in January reflect a trend of non-aggressiveness on the offensive end. In January, B.I. is averaging just 11 shot attempts per game. In the previous 30 games before January, B.I. attempted 11 or fewer shot attempts just three times. Pelicans head Coach Willie Green thinks Ingram will figure things out if he is aggressive in games. 

"We want him to continue to be aggressive," Coach Green told reporters after Tuesday's shootaround. "I think he's playing well, but the scoring hasn't been there..........It's been a few games, like Dallas, where he missed some easy shots that are makeable for him....... so continue to be aggressive, and it'll come out in the wash."

The numbers bear out this claim. Ingram shoots the second-highest percentage of his shots from 15-19 feet. Over the past seven games, B.I. is shooting just 22.7% from that distance. Over the first 30 games of the year, Ingram averaged 50% shooting in the same area. Similar numbers trend the closer he gets to the basket. At shots less than five feet away, he's averaging 53.3% shooting, as opposed to 70.8% up until January. 

Ingram's importance to get back on track is magnified by the Pelicans' inept clutch ability in games. New Orleans is 6-9 in clutch games this year, including 0-6 in games decided by three points or fewer. On Sunday, the Mavericks employed a weird strategy other teams may implement in the future. The Mavericks were up two points with less than 20 seconds left and intentionally fouled Zion Williamson.

Williamson made just one out of two free throws, and Dallas eventually won the game by five points. As a team, New Orleans is dead last in free throw percentage (59.2%) during the clutch period of games. If teams begin to intentionally foul Zion late in games, then until he consistently makes them down the stretch, the Pelicans may look to Ingram more in late-game situations to carry them. 

Coach Green didn't appear overly worried about Ingram's slump. New Orleans begins a four-game home stand on Wednesday against the Charlotte Hornets, who are second to last in the league in defensive efficiency. A breakout game from Ingram could send him on the right track and help propel New Orleans in the future to be a true contender in the West.