Joe Ingles Plans To Join Melbourne United Next Season

Timberwolves wing Joe English remains to be within the NBA playoffs however he is already made plans to play in his native Australia in 2026/27. Ingles is anticipated to complete his profession there by signing with Melbourne United for the following National Basketball League (NBL) season, a number of sources advised ESPN’s Olgun Uluc.

Ingles is at present enjoying on a one-year, veteran’s minimal cope with Minnesota, so he’ll be an unrestricted free agent this summer time.

uluc reported Earlier this month that Ingles was aiming to return to Australia and was drawing curiosity from each Melbourne-based groups — United and the South East Melbourne Phoenix. The Adelaide 36ers have been additionally amongst his fits. Ingles started his skilled profession within the NBL with the now-defunct South Dragons in 2006.

Ingles has represented his nation for a few years on the worldwide stage, suiting up for the Australian Boomers in 5 Olympics, together with Paris in 2024.

He shall be 39 by the point the 2026/27 NBL season begins however along with his NBA expertise, elite three-point taking pictures, positional measurement, and skill as a creator, he may nonetheless have an effect within the Australian league.

Ingles has been on the finish of the Timberwolves’ bench for the final two seasons, showing in 19 video games in 2024/25 and 27 in ’25/26. He by no means performed greater than 9 minutes in his first 25 appearances this season earlier than an April 8 stint in opposition to Orlando through which he contributed seven factors, 4 rebounds and 4 assists. He received an opportunity to play 32 minutes in opposition to New Orleans within the common season finale and racked up 15 factors, 10 assists and 6 rebounds.

Ingles made a cameo in Minnesota’s Game 3 victory over Denver on Thursday that gave the Timberwolves a 2-1 lead within the first-round collection.

In 750 profession regular-season contests, Ingles has averaged 7.7 factors, 3.5 assists and three.0 rebounds in 23.5 minutes. He’s a profession 40.9 p.c three-point shooter who had his greatest seasons with Utah throughout his first eight years within the league.