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The Timberwolves have upgraded Jaden McDaniels (left oblique contusion) to questionable for Christmas Day’s game against Denver. Joe Ingles (personal reasons) is available.
Isaiah Thomas said he is healthy because he still has the desire to play in the NBA again. In stops with Charlotte and Phoenix, he served as a veteran presence and mentor, erasing concerns that he would be clamoring for playing time or be a potential distraction. NBA teams have been more prone in recent years to sign veterans such as Garrett Temple in Toronto or Deandre Jordan in New Orleans or Kyle Lowry in Philadelphia or Joe Ingles in Minnesota to help with the nurturing of younger players. “I want to play one more year,” Thomas said. “I want to be able to put on a jersey and mentally end it on my own. I feel that good and I know I’m able to produce for a team whether it’s on the floor or whether it’s a veteran presence in the locker room. Ultimately my No. 1 goal is to get back in. I’m staying ready but also figuring out things that are happening throughout my life that are positive as well.”
Jon Krawcznyski: Joe Ingles has a strained groin. He’s going to be re-evaluated in a week, per the Wolves
Who were some of the NBA comparisons you were hearing coming in? Like, when you were hearing, “Okay, it’s time. I gotta leave now”? Jalen Williams: They weren’t really what made me leave, but I got guys like Joe Ingles. Joe, man — Joe’s my boy. It’s funny — me and my team were like, “Ain’t no way they thought he was no damn Joe, bro!” I gotta find the thing… yeah, yeah. Joe’s the homie though — salute to Kill. Yeah, he was a good chiller. Yeah, Joe... I got Joe Ingles. Me and my trainer — when I got drafted — he gave me Joe’s trading card, just as a joke. But I think my ceiling was like Harden, and then they were saying I played like Joe Ingles. So that was mine too, coming out of college.
Jon Krawczynski: From what I can gather on the Wolves' thinking on Ingles: He's a good vet, beloved by teammates and valued by coaches. Will take a spot without expecting big playing time without issue. Minott wanted to go elsewhere for minutes. Any young player would have similar frustration
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Shams Charania: Free agent forward Joe Ingles intends to sign a one-year, $3.6 million deal to return to the Minnesota Timberwolves, sources tell ESPN. Wolves officials negotiated the deal with Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports to bring Ingles back for his 12th NBA season.
Michael Grange: Australian NBL prospect Alex Toohey told me that he has workout with the Raptors scheduled. Big playmaking wing who models his game after Bojan Bogdanovic, Joe Ingles and others.
Jonah: Julius Randle on Mike Conley and Joe Ingles' veteran leadership: “I’ve talked all year about the leader that he is (Conley) for our team, and how he kinda keeps us balanced. -- How he or Joe is able to pull me to the side. Keep me level-headed. -- Those guys are huge."
Coach Chris Finch did something a little different to change the energy of the team from the start. He started Joe Ingles, whose autistic son Jacob is now able to attend games in an arena for the first time in his life. Ingles’ family has been living in Orlando this season, and they were here this week, but Ingles hadn’t played. Finch gave Ingles the start, with Ingles’ former teammate in Utah Mike Conley ceding his spot. “It was emotional,” Finch said. “Sometimes you gotta do the human thing. We always talk about all these minutes matter, and those minutes matter for another reason.”
"So Chris, how did the conversation go with Joe when you brought it to him?" Chris Finch: "You know, he was really appreciative—emotional. And you know, obviously I had to have a conversation with Mike too, who was super pumped. And everyone in the organization was really excited for that, and for their family, and for Jacob in particular. But yeah, you know, Joe's meant so much to us this season. I can't begin to thank him for his leadership. In a team such as ours and the way we're constructed, we brought him here with a different vision, and that hasn't worked out just simply because we've got so much depth after the trade. We're just trying to get all these guys into a rhythm and connectivity and stuff. And he's been always ready. But his voice in the locker room, and his presence, and his personality on this team, and his leadership has meant everything—particularly for our young guys. So, you know, it's the least we could do."
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The Wolves ran the first play for Ingles, who finished 0-for-3, but it didn’t matter that he didn’t score. “At this point in my career, if it happened it happened, and if it didn’t it didn’t,” Ingles said. “To look up there tonight and I could see my name, and especially with Jacob — obviously, to Mike as well, being cool with it, it’s rare in this league for someone to give up something that he’s earned over 16 years to give me that opportunity. It’s something I’ll never forget.”
Joe Ingles: "As a dad, I’m really proud. He’s worked so hard every day at school, therapy, speech. His team helps him fit in—in a not very friendly world, a lot of the time. For him to work so hard and now be out there with his brother and sister and his mom and all sit there and watch his dad—it’s just super cool. Especially with my daughter coming along, our youngest, to enjoy things with his brother and sister. I think a lot of people, especially with kids, think you miss out on stuff. It’s not just about buses, aquariums, schools, or cars—it’s not like, 'Oh, you’re in the NBA, you’ve got money, those problems go away.' They don’t. It’s a reality for us every day. Jacob’s doing great now, but there are still challenges we go through."
Joe Ingles: "Yeah, because I don’t think people understand. It gets kind of confused because of the money and the lifestyle. Yes, it’s a little less stressful because I can afford for Jacob to get what he needs. But it doesn’t take away the meltdowns in the supermarket. There were so many times my wife was alone with him, laying on the floor in public. You can feel people staring, judging, making comments—but they don’t know what he’s going through. Since he got diagnosed, we’ve tried to raise awareness. It doesn’t matter who you are—your lifestyle or your money. Jacob doesn’t care that I play basketball. He just wants his dad home.
Joe Ingles: My wife’s had so many situations while I’ve been away. She battles with three kids, or even one—it’s tough. You add the special needs part—it’s a real thing. We’ll keep pushing awareness. We’ll do whatever we can to help other families. People need to understand—it doesn’t go away with money. It doesn’t go away with your situation. All we can do is talk about it and give Jacob the best chance to fit into this crazy world."
