Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch abandoned Joe Ingles for a moment to remember during the team’s 134-93 victory against New Orleans Pélicans at the Target Center on Friday.
Ingles, 37, was in the initial training for the first time in three years, and it was not because Finch was trying to trigger the team.
Ingles’ family was in town for the game because they live in Orlando. Ingles has three children with his wife Renae, and one of his children, Jacob, eight, is autistic.
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Minnesota Timberwolves goalkeeper Joe Ingles (7) (7) warms up before a match against the Los Angeles Lakers in Crypto.com Arena on February 27, 2025. (Images Jason Parkhurst-Imagn)
In Orlando, Jacob goes to a school he loves and a house that offers him a safe refuge, according to The Athletic.
For the first time, Jacob was able to sit through an NBA match from start to finish. Jacob had never been able to sit before a whole game, due to the sensory overload of being in an NBA arena.
During the Timberwolves match against Utah Jazz on Sunday, Renae and her children retired to the family room at halftime. Jacob told his mother that once he entered the room, he didn’t want to miss any action.
“Have the timer and watch the clock so as not to miss the action for a second,” Jacob told his mother, said athletics.
Renae could not believe what she heard, to cover with him to make sure he was serious. But Jacob was firm. He wanted to look at the second half.
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Joe Ingles, n ° 7 of the Minnesota Timberwolves, examines during the match against the Pélicans in New Orleans on March 21, 2025, at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (David Sherman / NBAE via Getty Images)
“Why? I can play PlayStation at home. I’m here to watch my father,” said Jacob.
The only problem for the Ingles family was that Joe did not end up playing in this match on Sunday.
Finch learned that Jacob had managed an entire NBA match and wanted to give the Ingles family a chance to see Joe playing in their last match in Minnesota before returning to Orlando.
Thus, Finch inserted Joe into the starting program to make sure that Jacob would see his father playing.
“Sometimes you have to do the human thing. We are always talking about how all these minutes count, and the (Ingles) minutes were counted for another reason,” said Finch.
When Finch called Joe in his office to tell him the plan he started, he was caught off guard.
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Minnesota Timberwolves Anthony Edwards (5) and goalkeeper Joe Ingles (7) speak in a franc launch against the Milwaukee Bucks in the second quarter at the Target Center on February 12, 2025. (Images Brad Répel-Imagn)
“Are you sure?” Asked Ingles.
The game was of massive importance for the Timberwolves because they are fighting for the most important seeded to avoid having to play in the game tournament.
Indeed, Ingles started. He did not play well, doing 0-3 shot in just six minutes, but that did not matter for the Ingles family.
“Tonight was a striking evening for our family, and I just had to share! I generally do not post a lot of NBA content, but this moment was too special to stay for me,” said Renae on Instagram.
“For the first time, Jacob managed an entire NBA match – in the stands encouraging his dad team!”
“Watch him soak at every moment, I couldn’t help but tear up with pride. It’s been 6 years of hard work, dedication and perseverance to reach this point, and we are there, going high on this incredible achievement.”
The Minnesota Timberwolves goalkeeper, Joe Ingles (7), dribble against the Portland Trail Blazers in the fourth quarter at the Target Center on February 8, 2025. (Images Matt Blewett-Imagn)
“Feel incredibly grateful for this trip and all the support we had throughout.”
“That’s it,” said Joe, “I will remember forever.”
The Timberwolves won the victory on Friday evening, but more importantly, the Ingles family left with a memory that will last a lifetime.
