Minnesota Timberwolves forward Joe Ingles intends to finish his playing career in Australia by signing with Melbourne United for the 2026-27 National Basketball League season, according to multiple sources cited by ESPN’s Olgun Uluc.
The 38-year-old veteran is currently on a one-year veteran’s minimum contract with Minnesota and remains active in the NBA playoffs. Once the Timberwolves’ postseason run ends, he is expected to finalize an agreement that would take him back to his home country next year.
Uluc had reported earlier in April that Ingles was weighing offers from both Melbourne-based franchises—United and South East Melbourne Phoenix—while the Adelaide 36ers also expressed interest. United has now emerged as the frontrunner.
Long Ties to Australian Basketball
Ingles launched his professional career in 2006 with the now-defunct South Dragons and has represented the Australian Boomers at five Olympic Games, most recently in Paris in 2024. He will be 39 when the 2026-27 NBL campaign begins, but his size, playmaking skills and 40.9 percent career three-point accuracy are expected to make him a valuable addition to United’s roster.
Recent NBA Role
Over the past two seasons, Ingles has primarily filled a reserve role in Minnesota. He appeared in 19 games last year and 27 this year, logging double-digit minutes only twice before a 32-minute outing in the regular-season finale against New Orleans, where he posted 15 points, 10 assists and six rebounds. He also logged brief minutes in the Timberwolves’ Game 3 victory over Denver, which gave Minnesota a 2-1 lead in the opening round.
Across 750 regular-season NBA games, primarily with the Utah Jazz, Ingles has averaged 7.7 points, 3.5 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 23.5 minutes.
His expected move to Melbourne would mark the final chapter of a professional journey that began in the NBL two decades earlier.
Source: Hoops Rumors
