Brandon Ingram is upset at his lack of playing time on Team USA in the FIBA World Cup. He expressed this in an interview with The Athletic:

“This is totally different than what I am used to. The team is winning right now, so I can’t be selfish thinking about myself. But it’s a little frustrating right now for me, and I’m just trying to figure out ways I can be effective.”

Brandon Ingram to Joe Vardon of The Athletic

Ingram scored just two points in 15 minutes of play in the Team USA vs. New Zealand game – a 99-72 win for USA Basketball. Eight different players had more minutes.

The New Orleans Pelicans NBA All-Star is one of the most experienced and talented players on the team. He averaged a career-high 24.7 points, along with 5.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists, in the 2022-23 NBA season.

Those are big-time numbers, but Team USA is rolling right now. One might criticize Ingram’s frustration, but that’s just the competitive nature. Anthony Edwards had a similar thought when the idea of him coming off the bench was brought up by coach Steve Kerr. The quote, courtesy of The Athletic, via Lakers Nation:

“I mean, of course I wasn’t cool with it,” Edwards said. “If that’s what it takes, I mean, I am willing to do it, but nah, I’m never cool with that. … He said Dwyane Wade came off the bench when Kobe played. I was like, all right, we don’t have a Kobe, but all right. But it was cool.”

Ingram is most likely feeling the same way. He’s too good to not have a larger role on this particular squad that’s missing big stars like Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.