Interview with Andre Ingram of the Los Angeles D-Fenders – IBN
How did you get into basketball was it a family thing?
You could say that my older brother I followed everything he did. When we were younger we played all the sports, soccer…. Soccer was actually our first love. But one year I tried basketball and that was it for soccer and everything else. I started at an early age. Maybe 5…6….7 and kept going from there.
When did you realize that you were better than most people at basketball?
It’s funny I really didn’t until I started in AAU. I started playing AAU ball in 7th grade. I made the middle school team, but I didn’t play a game, my sixth-grade year or my seventh-grade year. But in AAU you play by age group and I saw that my talent measured up to the others if not better. So it was around the 7th grade that I realized that I had something and then it really took off in high school.
What was the recruiting process like for you?
That’s funny you say that because I’ve always been an NBA guy. I grew up when Jordan was at his peak.How could you not love it? When college came around I really didn’t understand how the recruiting process worked. My focus in high school was winning a state title and playing in the NBA. I had recruiting letters from all over.. I’m looking at them and reading them but not really understanding how great college ball was. I actually made coaches wait, I told them I’m focused on winning a state title.
So when it was time to choose a school there were only a few left. But it all worked out I went to a good school.
You went to American(University?)
Yeah
Did you win the state title?
Yes my senior year.. our school hadn’t won it in 40 years.
What’s the Best feeling basketball has given you?
Basketball has grown me.. One of the best feelings was that state title.. not sure how good it is the best feeling in high school.
What also sticks out is coming back home. I went to school in DC, so when I came back home and played VCU I just went off. My highest scoring game in college, it was on the road and I loved it. The crowd was into it and I was yelling at them it was probably the height of my college career when I got to go home. And as a professional it’s just seeing guys like Kobe in the locker room, being in that atmosphere seeing guys you grew up idolizing
What’s the Worst feeling basketball has given you?
It’s not just one significant day or feeling. Failure just hurts. Losing hurts. Some games ae bigger than others. My last game in college, I wasn’t even a big college guy but losing my last game that hurt.
Is there a point where you realize that you’ve maximized your skills? How you do you handle realizing that you might not make the NBA but you can still play professional basketball?
Funny thing is I feel like I hit that point each year but as long as I feel that year after year… I feel that spark, excitement and joy to keep playing, it’s like now I’m at my peak, now I’m at my best. This year is going to be the year. I keep having that feeling, even in my training and workouts,, mentally and physically I feel that every year. So and then it gets to the point well maybe you won’t make the NBA.
But then I say I played against NBA guys, been on the court with them and some of them I wiped the floor with. And you realize.. you get a bigger picture than just yourself. You start to see thee’s a lot of other guys that I’ve played with o against that are just as talented as ppl in the league. And even better than NBA guys sometimes it’s just a matter of opportunity.. then as you get older you see there’s tons of guys with the ability they just don’t get the opportunity
I love professional ball. Of course, you don’t want to be there(D-League) you want to be in the NBA but at the end of the day it’s a professional lifestyle. You hear about athletes going broke even though they make millions of dollars… the lifestyle there’s so much freedom. In college, you have people making sure you go to class and study hall But in the D-league we have a two practice and the day is yours.
So it became apparent to me… real quick that I could… how what happened to this guy or that guy. But if you love disciplining yourself and I do. I’ve loved being in control of my training… how much work I put in.. the D league is nice it’s a pro lifestyle and it’s for me.
Who’s the most notable person you’ve played against?
This guy I played in college and everyone knew he was going to be really good.. Brandon Roy my junior in college we flew out to Washington…we actually had a couple guys from there and it was like a homecoming for them. I was matched up with Roy.. wasn’t like he had 30 points, but IU could… tell… I could see why you got the hype you do … plus he was a great guy.
What do you think of where the NBA is going right now? With Analytics and small ball, do they incorporate that into the D-league at all.
I like small ball it’s good for me.. I can’t imagine what it’s like for the bigs.. but you still have some traditional coaches out there. I grew up under traditional coaches coach Lancaster in High school coach Jones At American and even in the D-league(I’ve had) traditional coaches that still believe in playing the five-man, the four man and a three a two and a point. I did play one season with a guy that was into small ball and it was great for me.. you pretty much get to run and gun which is what I do.. even in high school we were a run and gun team even tho we used some of the old philosophies. And some programs haven’t adopted analytics as much as you’d think …at least in the D league.
And the lakers just hired someone
Exactly Yeah yeah..it’s changing though people are in it nothing wrong with emerging and growing. All change ain’t bad and it’s not necessarily good.I don’t think it’s set in stone that the way Golden State played and won this year… could be… the Spurs have gone back to two bigs Duncan and Aldridge down there they are going to have a traditional type team I think they are more than capable.(of winning a title) The game changes and then it comes back.
Where do you see yourself playing this year?
So I mean.. so my first look is overseas I want that experience. I want to see what it’s like. For me at this stage I’ve been in the d-league so long… they like having young guys they like having rookies as well for me a 29-year old isn’t flying off the page especially if you haven’t played there before.
So I would like to but if nothing comes by the time D league training camp comes I’ll go back there. But either way I’m excited.
I appreciate it.
No problem man
