On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Lakers played for the first time since Brandon Ingram was diagnosed with DVT. The forward had been playing the best basketball of his career but all of that was put on hold with the health scare and he will now have to rest and recover.
His teammate, Kyle Kuzma, who was among the first to publicly show his support for Ingram on social media, speak to reporters after the game about his feelings after learning the news:
Kyle Kuzma talked for the first time since Brandon Ingram's DVT was diagnosed: "I was real sad. It hits home for me because I know how much Brandon works, I know how bad he wants to be great, I know much he loves the game of basketball. "
— Kyle Goon (@kylegoon) March 13, 2019
Kuz continued on Brandon Ingram: "He never sits out at practice, he’s always in the gym. He can’t do nothing for at least, I don’t know how long they said, to be on blood thinners and not do anything — I couldn’t imagine what it’s like so I feel for him every day."
— Kyle Goon (@kylegoon) March 13, 2019
It’s obviously an unfortunate situation for Ingram who has had two straight seasons of playing fewer than 60 games. It’s especially unfortunate given that he was turning a corner in his development process.
NBA players are very habitual creatures and for most of them, basketball is their whole life. That seems to be the case with Ingram. Back when Lonzo Ball sprained his ankle after a similar stretch of great play, Luke Walton spoke about the importance of his teammates supporting him and being in contact with him while he recovered. That will be doubly true for Ingram.
Hopefully, BI will make a full recovery and get back to doing what he loves as soon as possible.
