If there's one NBA player who can assuage doubts about the Los Angeles Lakers' willowy No. 2 overall pick Brandon Ingram, it's probably Kevin Durant.
Durant, himself a No. 2 pick, came into the league nine years ago facing similar concerns about his strength and rail-thin frame, and has resoundingly laid those concerns to rest. Ingram likely won't ever be the outside shooter Durant is, but he's a comparatively unique, skilled, long, fluid guard-forward hybrid, and he left quite an impression on Durant during USA Basketball practice in Las Vegas on Tuesday.
Ingram was playing with the USA Select Team, which has been scrimmaging against Durant and the rest of the Rio-bound national team ahead of next month's Olympics.
Watching Ingram up close, Durant declared that the 18-year-old is even further along the development curve than he was at the same age. He also acknowledged the physical and stylistic similarities between them.
"First person I can say, that I can look at him and feel like I'm looking in the mirror," Durant told Serena Winters of Lakers Nation.
Durant surprised the Lakers earlier this month by eschewing a free-agent meeting with the historically glamorous franchise. But if his assessment of Ingram proves prophetic, this summer will still have brought the Lakers the next-best thing.
