As part of the Australian team's preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Joe Ingles spoke about his news after signing a one-year contract with the Wolves for $3.3 million. After the Boomers' big win over China yesterday (91-58), the veteran explained the reasons for his choice. Of course, his role will remain minimal in Minnesota, but the Wolves' ambitions will clearly be higher than at Amgic, which had the merit of seducing him.
“It was more of a basketball decision”, he confided. “In Orlando, it would have been different. They have a very young group, and they just drafted a new 3-4 (Tristan Da Silva), so I would have hardly played at all. There will always be that competitive side to me, and to have a chance to be on a really good team again, it's going to be fun.”
A thirst for victory still intact
The prospect of reuniting with Mike Conley and Rudy Gobert, two of his “historic” teammates in Utah, also played a role, even if, as in Orlando, it will be more of a coaching role, a complement, rather than a significant role.
“Minnesota had already tried to get me last year too,” he added. “They were pretty insistent, but we chose Orlando. I'm going to arrive there fully aware of the role they'll have for me. I'm going to try to help Rudy (Gobert), help “Ant” (Edwards), and support all these guys in their progression, hoping that we go further this time.”
But before joining Minneapolis, there are these Paris Olympics looming and the possibility of making history, even if for the moment, Joe Ingles is not yet certain of being part of Brian Goorjian's selection.
“Like everyone else, I want to be part of it,” he explained. “Of course, for Patty (Mills) and I to go and play a fifth Olympics would be an incredible thing. I think I did everything I could have done, and I had a good week of training. I know what I do when I'm not on the field, to bring the group together, unite these people and get that rhythm back when we're down. That's the way it is, we'll see what happens. I might be really happy or a little bummed. We'll see.”
| Joe Ingles | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2014-15 | UTH | 79 | 21 | 41.5 | 35.6 | 75.0 | 0.3 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 5.0 |
| 2015-16 | UTH | 81 | 15 | 42.6 | 38.6 | 72.2 | 0.2 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 4.2 |
| 2016-17 | UTH | 82 | 24 | 45.2 | 44.1 | 73.5 | 0.3 | 2.9 | 3.2 | 2.7 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 7.1 |
| 2017-18 | UTH | 82 | 31 | 46.7 | 44.0 | 79.5 | 0.3 | 3.9 | 4.2 | 4.8 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 11.5 |
| 2018-19 | UTH | 82 | 31 | 44.8 | 39.1 | 70.7 | 0.4 | 3.6 | 4.0 | 5.7 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 2.4 | 0.2 | 12.1 |
| 2019-20 | UTH | 72 | 30 | 44.5 | 39.9 | 78.7 | 0.4 | 3.5 | 3.9 | 5.2 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 2.0 | 0.2 | 9.8 |
| 2020-21 | UTH | 67 | 28 | 48.9 | 45.1 | 84.4 | 0.4 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 4.8 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 12.1 |
| 2021-22 | UTH | 45 | 25 | 40.4 | 34.7 | 77.3 | 0.3 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 3.5 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 7.2 |
| 2022-23 | MIL | 46 | 23 | 43.5 | 40.9 | 85.7 | 0.3 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 6.9 |
| 2023-24 | ENT | 68 | 17 | 43.6 | 43.5 | 82.4 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 3.0 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 4.4 |
| Total | 704 | 25 | 44.8 | 41.0 | 77.4 | 0.3 | 2.8 | 3.1 | 3.6 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 8.1 | |
How to read the stats? GM = Games Played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots Made / Shots Attempted; 3pts = 3-pointers / 3-pointers Attempted; LF = Free Throws Made / Free Throws Attempted; Off = Offensive Rebound; Def = Defensive Rebound; Tot = Total Rebounds; Pd = Assists; Fte: Personal Fouls; Int = Steals; Bp = Loose Balls; Ct: Blocks; Pts = Points.
