'It's a no-win situation': Fifth Olympics or not, Ingles waits on Paris call
Whether Joe Ingles is going to Paris 2024 or not, he plans to spend Friday with his family.
The 36-year-old and 16 other Australian Boomers squad members were due to find out late on Thursday night if they had made the team following last night’s 91-58 win over China at John Cain Arena.
Joe Ingles drives to the basket against China.Credit: Getty Images
For Ingles and Patty Mills, it would see them both go to their fifth Olympics which would tie Andrew Gaze for the most for a men’s basketballer.
But he knows the younger, more athletic generation are taking over the Boomers, who are expected to officially announce the team over the weekend.
“Like everybody here, you want to make it and, like Patty, I would be going to my fifth Olympics which would be unbelievable,” Ingles said on Thursday night.
“I did everything I had to do and could have done. It is what it is. I will go home tomorrow regardless and see my family, hang out with the kids and I’ll either be a happy or a little pissed off. We will see what happens.”
Boomers coach Brian Goorjian.Credit: Getty Images
Ingles loved the chance to play in the same venue where he started his career with the NBL’s South Dragons, and he gave Boomers coach Brian Goorjian a reminder of how he could help the team with a steadying performance in the second half where he had four assists.
Ingles and veteran shooter Chris Goulding, who made four quick threes in the second half, both made an impression on Goorjian and neither is a lock to make the team.
“I thought Joe got us going a bit with the pick and roll and the passing tonight,” Goorjian said.
“When you look at your guys who are playing, there are a lot of guys who haven’t been under the lights yet [at the Olympics] and both of them were good tonight.
Patty Mills of the Boomers dribbles the ball.Credit: Getty Images
“Whatever comes out of this, a lot of people will want to put a bullet in my head. It’s a no-win situation, but I have a great staff and I feel we will put the best team on the floor. I’m going to be real happy to move forward from this [selection].”
Mills struggled with his shooting again making just 1 of 11 shots in 21 minutes but Goorjian still backed the champion Boomer to find his shot.
“Patty started that way last year [before the World Cup],” Goorjian said.
Jock Landale (middle) grapples for a rebound against China.Credit: Getty Images
“I’m more looking at how he is moving, how is his conditioning and I think the more he plays, he is getting his shot, he is active defensively and he’s still quick; he hasn’t lost anything.
“He’s not shooting the ball well but Josh Giddey is getting him the ball, there is a better synergy between those two and Patty is in a really great place.”
Duop Reath and Matisse Thybulle, who appear to be locks for Paris, sat out Thursday night’s game to let Goorjian run Jock Landale, Dante Exum and Josh Green for more minutes as they missed Tuesday’s game.
Landale responded strongly with 19 points and nine rebounds including back-to-back dunks early in the last quarter while Green had the crowd audibly react when he leapt high for a rebound in the first half.
Jack White and DJ Vasiljevic didn’t suit up and appear likely to have missed out the team.
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Ingles’ daughter Milla, sat courtside with his wife Renae and other family and friends during Tuesday’s game against China and she gave her dad a hug and kiss as he went past their seats at half-time.
“She has never sat courtside; she is definitely not sitting courtside in the NBA, the tickets in John Cain Arena are a little cheaper,” Ingles said with a laugh.
“She loved it and was really getting into it. The first thing she said was that she had never seen me and Patty play live together which is pretty cool. I think she was more excited to see Patty than me which was disappointing.
“That’s the part I really enjoy now, having my family there and the kids especially. They are getting to the age where they understand what I do and what is going on and they know when I play for the yellow and green team and when I play for the team with whatever mascot my NBA team has.
“It was awesome to see them there. The other night Mila got to bed at 10pm so she needed to sleep tonight.”
From curse words to new coachIngles also spoke about his new NBA team after reports surfaced on Thursday AEST that he had signed a one-year deal, US$3.3 million deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“I’ve had too many teams,” Ingles exclaimed when asked about joining his sixth NBA side in 10 years.
“You know the crazy thing is I only wanted to play for one. I really just wanted to play for one,” Ingles said.
Joe Ingles attempts a scoop shot over China.Credit: Getty Images
He joins a team who made the Western conference finals this past season and needed a veteran playmaker to replace Kyle Anderson.
He will also rejoin long-time Utah teammates Mike Conley and Rudy Gobert, but Ingles revealed a “colourful” run in with Timberwolves coach Chris Finch when he coached Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympics.
“For me, it’s more a basketball decision,” Ingles said.
“Speaking to Finch and to Tim Connelly, and hearing the role they expect me to have. It’s an opportunity to play on a hell of a team. I know Rudy, I know Mike.
“I got into it with Chris Finch when he was the [Great Britain] coach during London 2012 prep. We motherf--ked each other from the sidelines. He brought [it] up. That competitiveness is always going be there.
“To have another chance at that, on obviously a really good team, will be fun.”
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