Brandon Ingram
A silky-smooth 6-foot-8 forward whose graceful scoring and playmaking have made him a cornerstone of every team he's played for.
Born 1997 (age 29)·American basketball player·Birthday: September 2·Generation Z
Biography
Brandon Ingram arrived in the NBA as a lanky teenager from Duke, carrying comparisons to Kevin Durant and the weight of being the Los Angeles Lakers' second overall pick. His early years were a study in patience, as his slender frame filled out and his game matured away from the Hollywood glare. The pivotal moment came with his trade to the New Orleans Pelicans, where he was unleashed as a primary option. The result was a Most Improved Player award in 2020 and back-to-back All-Star selections, as he developed a devastating mid-range game and underrated playmaking vision. Ingram's style is deceptively languid; he uses his extraordinary length and high release point to get shots off over defenders with an ease that belies the difficulty. While injuries have occasionally stalled his momentum, his talent as a three-level scorer and a modern, versatile wing remains undeniable, making him a prized asset as he continues his career with the Toronto Raptors.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Brandon was born in 1997, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Brandon Was Born
The biggest hits of 1997
#1 Movie
Titanic
Best Picture
Titanic
#1 TV Show
ER
Brandon's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1997Born
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2002Started school
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2010Became a teenager
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Could drive
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2015Could vote
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Turned 21
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 29 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Named the NBA's Most Improved Player in 2020 after averaging 23.8 points per game for the New Orleans Pelicans.
- Selected as an NBA All-Star in 2020 and 2023.
- Won the NCAA championship with the Duke Blue Devils in 2015 as a key freshman contributor.
- Averaged a career-high 24.7 points per game during the 2022-23 NBA season.
Did You Know?
He grew 5 inches after his sophomore year of high school, transforming his game.
He is an avid chess player and has spoken about how it helps his basketball IQ.
His nickname 'BI' or 'Slenderman' references his exceptionally long and lean physique.
He was named the 2016 National High School Player of the Year by multiple publications.
“I just try to be efficient. I don't try to take bad shots. I just try to take what the defense gives me.”
