- Timberwolves give Joe Ingles first start in 3 years
- Australian star gets to play in front of autistic son
Aussie NBA star Joe Ingles and his family had basketball fans in tears after an incredibly heartwarming gesture by the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday.
Ingles, 37, has been a reserve player for much of the current campaign, with his last start coming three years ago.
In a heart-melting moment, the Timberwolves decided to start the Aussie star so his autistic son Jacob could see him play for the first time.
Jacob, who suffers from sensory overload, had never sat through a game before.
Ingles’ wife Renae, a world champion netballer, took to social media to express her gratitude after the match.
‘This moment is one our family will cherish forever,’ she posted on Instagram.
A heartfelt gesture from the Timberwolves brought a joy to Aussie star Joe Ingles and family
‘Words can’t fully express our gratitude for such kindness. Those minutes on the court meant so much more than just a basketball game.
‘I’m incredibly proud of Jacob for all his hard work that brought him to the stands, but my heart swells with pride for Joe.
‘It’s a testament to his character, and to the amazing people in this organisation who recognise him and would do something like this for him. Just wow. Thank-you, Timberwolves!’
Renae said she was ‘speechless with gratitude’ afterwards.
‘Tonight was truly bigger than basketball for us and our family,’ she wrote on her Instagram stories
‘For Chris, the team and the whole organisation to support Joe and our family the way they did tonight, particularly Jacob, is truly incredible.
‘This is a night that we will, as a family, remember forever. There have been many tears today.
‘I am so proud of the person and teammate that Joe is, because the fact the team would do something like this for him is truly a reflection of that.’
Ingles has been a reserve player for much of the current campaign, with his last start coming three years ago
The decision was spearheaded by coach Chris Finch.
‘Sometimes you’ve got to do the human thing,’ Finch said afterwards.
‘We always talk about, ‘All these minutes matter,’ and those minutes mattered for another reason.’
Ingles delivered a powerful message after the match about the challenges of raising a son with autism.
‘The reality is I just don’t think people understand,’ Ingles told reporters.
‘There’s a little less stress because I can afford for Jacob to get what he needs but it doesn’t take away the meltdowns at the supermarket… or laying on the floor in public and you know people are staring and judging you but they have no idea what he’s gone through that day or the night before.
‘The s**t’s real. It doesn’t matter who you are or the lifestyle or the money,’ he added.
‘We’ll keep doing what we do. The awareness, and we’ll keep doing whatever we can to help other families. But I think people just need to understand this is a real thing. It doesn’t go away with money.
‘It doesn’t go away with situations we’re in. All we can do is talk about it. And then obviously for us, give Jacob the best chance to fit in in this crazy world that we’re in.’
