Joe Ingles has been the ever-reliable veteran on the Minnesota Timberwolves bench this season. He has not played across different games, but he got his first start of the 2024-25 season against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday.
Head coach Chris Finch continued being a class act, giving Ingles the start for the veteran forward's son, who was in the audience.
For the entire 24-25 season, Ingles' wife, Renae, and their three kids have stayed in the family home in Orlando. This week, the Ingles family has been in Minneapolis to watch the homestand.
Joe and Renae's son, Jacob, is autistic, which has led to him struggling to watch full basketball games. He watched his first full game during Minnesota's win against the Utah Jazz on March 17. Joe did not get to play in that game, but coach Finch made sure Jacob would get to watch his dad.
This Joe Ingles story
Joe's wife, Renae, and their 3 kids are in town. Last week, their son Jacob, who is autistic, made it through his first ever NBA game in-arena. But Joe didn't play...
Tonight, Chris Finch started Ingles to make sure Jacob could see his dad play pic.twitter.com/fKrHuFTNEi
— NBA (@NBA) March 22, 2025
Related: The Timberwolves are Peaking at the Right Time Under Chris Finch
A Great Moment For The Ingles Family
Jacob was born in 2016, but due to his autism, he had not watched a full game before the Timberwolves' win against the Jazz.
That was a big moment for the Ingles family, but this game against the Pelicans was even bigger. Jacob getting to see his father start a game would've been a fantastic moment.
Considering Joe is 37, this was a significant event in all their lives. Ingles is in the later stages of his professional basketball career, so getting this moment comes down to Finch being a class act for giving Joe that opportunity.
This also coincides with Ingles being one of basketball's biggest advocates for autism awareness. Finch giving Ingles the start shows the Timberwolves are an organization that promotes inclusivity.
"It was emotional, sometimes you gotta do the human thing. We always talk about all these things matter, and those minutes matter for another reason," Finch said after the game. "Someone put it in my head today as an idea and make sure that Joe can see the floor. I figured if we're gonna do it, let's do it in style. Guys were behind it and it gave us the right boost that we needed and change of energy."
The Timberwolves Have A Great Team Culture
The players on the Timberwolves roster always have fun on the court and off the bench. Smiles are all around when they play, which has given people the impression that the team is tight-knit.
This decision by coach Finch proves that because he made sure to give Ingles a moment of a lifetime. It also helped that the game against the Pelicans was a 134-93 blowout, as the team showcased their quality after a rough two-game stretch.
No matter what happens for the rest of the season, the Ingles family has a moment to remember for the rest of their lives. That is a product of the Timberwolves organization's culture that loves every team member.
Related: Ant Edwards Recalls How Finch Lit A Fire Under Timberwolves
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This story was originally published March 21, 2025 at 9:42 PM.
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