Ingram: This was my worst season as a Pelican

Brandon Ingram took responsibility for his poor performance after the New Orleans Pelicans were swept in the opening round of the postseason by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

"From (Team) USA up to this season is probably the worst that I've been in a New Orleans Pelicans uniform," Ingram said in his postgame press conference, per Pelicans Film Room.

"I've got to go look myself in the mirror and tell myself what I really need to do. How can I help this team? How can I help the coaches? And how do I get the fans of New Orleans to believe in us again? That's my job, that's my task."

Ingram struggled mightily against the Thunder, averaging 14.3 points and 3.3 assists over the four games while shooting 34.5% from the field and 25% from three.

The 26-year-old saw his production go down during the 2023-24 season as the Pelicans leaned more on star forward Zion Williamson, who had the healthiest year of his career.

Williamson appeared in 70 games during the regular season before suffering a hamstring injury in New Orleans' play-in game against the Los Angeles Lakers. He was ruled out of the opening round against Oklahoma.

Pelicans vice president of basketball operations David Griffin vowed to make changes this offseason after New Orleans finished seventh in the Western Conference with a 49-33 record.

"This will not be a summer of complacency, it's time to get better," he told Shamit Dua of WDSU New Orleans.

Ingram was a member of the USA squad that failed to reach the podium at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, losing the bronze-medal game in overtime to Canada. Ingram averaged 5.7 points at the tournament.

The 6-foot-8 forward has one year and $36 million left on his contract with the Pelicans.