It’s a known fact that Joe Ingles has a respectable career in the NBA walking into his 37th birthday next October. Everyone knows that his better days are behind him in the NBA level, but he remains a vital part of an NBA team’s winning scheme. More importantly, he does that after an ACL surgery that made him miss most of the season.
Ingles was never a super athlete, but he was a plus-defender and a great playmaker from the wing position. He is also a 40.9% career shooter since he entered the league in the summer of 2014. Coming off an illustrious career in the EuroLeague, the Australian forward quickly became part of the Jazz’s rotation. He played 7 seasons in Utah before joining the Bucks in 2023 offseason and the young Orlando Magic last summer.
Before becoming part of the NBA culture, Joe Ingles won the EuroLeague under Davit Blatt, who moved to the NBA one season later, with Maccabi Tel Aviv in his last season in Europe. Joe Ingles spent three seasons between 2010-2013 with FC Barcelona and ended up logging 95 games in the EuroLeague with averages of 5.6 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 18 minutes per game.
The Australian obviously entered the NBA with low expectations but he instantly became one of the Jazz’s fans favorite players thanks to his curious style of pay which was not NBA material for a starter position at first glance. Slow Mo Joe had a 6-7 frame to compensate and great ball-handling abilities becoming one of the best wing creators in the NBA.
His ability to create “big” combinations of pick&roll plays and a ton of mismatches that ended up in easy baskets. His Utah stint was a great example of how a player without beast athleticism can survive against peak athletes. Joe Ingles jumping out of the building did not mean that the forward did not work on his body.
“We do a lot so we spend probably like an hour before every practice and game on the table getting treatment,” Joe Ingles revealed when the time he was with the Jazz. “We spend probably about the same, 30 minutes to an hour after the game, to be reasonably healthy when we can. But yeah, especially for me, doing the treatment before and after the game is why I’m able to be out there every night.”
His unmatched work ethic and his ability to produce results were the reason he had a relatively smooth return last season after tearing his ACL on Jan. 30 2022 during his final season in Utah. He came back one year later and established a role in the 58-win Milwaukee Bucks. Ingles did not continue alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and co. but joined the up-and-coming Orlando Magic.
Joe Ingles scores on Wemby like it's nuthin' pic.twitter.com/Lm6OHMv6Cp
— outbreezy (@outbreezyWC) February 9, 2024
Joe Ingles becomes a part of Orlando’s young movement
With Ingles having a full summer to prepare himself for the season, the Australian forward signed a 1+1 deal with the Orlando Magic taking the role behind young wings Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero. His impact is not the same like his days as a Jazzman, but Jingle Joe is doing his part.
“I try to enjoy the game and I am very lucky to do what I do. I’m realistic with that. Like, I’m this f—ing old, slow dude and I get to play in the f—ing NBA. Like, it’s pretty cool. And I enjoy what I do and I am who I am,” Joe Ingles said in an interview with the Athletic last year.
"Yeah, mate, that was a great pass, mate." 😆
Joe Ingles with the dime and Shaq with the "perfect" Australian accent…
Catch all your #NBA action LIVE on ESPN! 📺 pic.twitter.com/jOFaA71aPO
— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) February 14, 2024
Joe Ingles appeared in 41 games with the Magic this season averaging 4.7 points, 3.1 assists and 2.7 rebounds on 40.9% from deep in 17 minutes per contest. His ability to find the right passing lanes and create baskets for his teammates has been there once again and his experience in a young group of players has been valued highly.
“I think a big part of it to me is, if you look at the 30 teams in the NBA and the draft every year, like how many guys get drafted to take over a team like that, like LeBron? There’s, what, two or three max guys on each team, depending on what team you are, and everyone else, you’ve gotta find a role,” Ingles said in a recent interview with CBS.
“And if you don’t find a role, there will be another young guy that’ll take that role. And for me, early on, I was obviously 27 [as an NBA rookie], but it was like, “I’m going to fit into this role however it is. And that’s not saying you don’t push the limit to try and get more minutes, more reps, more whatever it is.”
That said, Joe Ingles is looking to enjoy his time helping a young team make a playoff race run as the Magic stand at 30-25 and they’re in the conversation for a playoff spot in the post All-Star part of the season.
