Longtime NBA veteran and Olympic bronze medallist Joe Ingles is officially set to return home to Australia, after a 12-year NBA career.
On Tuesday, it was announced that the 38-year-old had signed a two-year deal with NBL club Melbourne United.
Ingles joins United after back-to-back playoff runs with the Minnesota Timberwolves, playing alongside stars such as Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert, as well as fellow Australian Rocco Zikarsky.
But Ingles has expressed excitement for a new chapter in his career.
“Coming home to Melbourne feels incredibly special,” he told the club’s website.
“To return to where my professional career began almost 20 years ago is something I don’t take for granted. So much has happened since then, but Melbourne has always felt like home.
“We’re really excited to reconnect with the community here, and to be closer to family and friends again. After so many years overseas, that part means a lot to us.”
“From a basketball perspective, this opportunity really excited me. I still love competing, I still love the game, and I believe I can genuinely help this group win.
Next season will mark Ingles’ first time back in the NBL in nearly two decades.
Ingles began his professional career for the South Dragons, helping the team win an NBL championship in the club’s final season before they pulled themselves from the league, due to a lack of confidence in the league’s future.
From there he played in Europe, having notable stints in Spain and Israel that helped him catch the eye of NBA scouts.
Ingles would sign with the Utah Jazz ahead of the 2014-15 season, and become a staple of the team for nearly a decade, featuring in a number of playoff runs before being traded in 2022.
His last few seasons in the league saw him bounce around from Milwaukee to Orlando, before settling in Minnesota as the Timberwolves became one of the Western Conference’s elite teams.
The Wolves made the second round of this year’s playoffs but were ultimately eliminated by the Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs 4-2 in the semi-finals.
For his career, Ingles averaged 7.7 points, 3.5 assists and three rebounds in 23.5 minutes per game.