EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Andre Ingram, the Los Angeles Lakers' feel-good story of late last season, will get a second tour of duty in the NBA.
Lakers head coach Luke Walton confirmed that Ingram -- who plays for the franchise's G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers -- will join the team in Chicago. The Lakers, who play the Bulls on Tuesday, are short-handed; Brandon Ingram (deep venous thrombosis in shoulder) and Lonzo Ball (ankle) are not returning this season. Kyle Kuzma (ankle) has missed the last two games but was a full participant in practice on Monday, and the Lakers will see how Kuzma is feeling before the Bulls game.
Andre Ingram, 33, made headlines that spanned beyond the sports world when he got his first opportunity to play in an NBA game last April, after spending 10 years grinding away in the NBA's development league.
The G League's record-holder for most career 3-pointers had a dream debut. After a touching video of the Lakers signing him went viral, Ingram drilled his first four shots, including three from behind the 3-point arc, to finish with 19 points against Houston last April 10.
Ingram was even serenaded with MVP chants and the shooter became an overnight sensation. He scored five points on 2-for-9 shooting in his only other NBA game, against the Clippers on April 11.
Ingram's upcoming stint with the Lakers was first reported by the LA Sentinel.
"I loved his attitude," Walton said. "He doesn't complain. He works hard no matter what. You talk to the G League coaches, whenever they need him, he's ready to play. ... He spaced the floor for us."
"He knocked down shots. We've got other guys that are going to get their opportunities," Walton added. "But if we're having a game again where we're missing and we need someone to knock down [shots] and space that floor, then we feel confident he can do that."
