The Timberwolves See Real Value In Having Joe Ingles
The Minnesota Timberwolves made the surprising decision to keep Joe Ingles around as one of the team's veterans for the 2025-26 season. He did not play much during the Timberwolves' 2024-25 campaign, but the people in charge see him as an important piece.
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Ingles will turn 38 in October after playing only 114 total minutes in the 2024-25 season. Despite that, the president of basketball operations, Tim Connelly, decided to bring him back due to his and head coach Chris Finch's preferences.
Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
The Timberwolves have a loaded roster, as they have retained most of their core from the 2024-25 Western Conference Finals run. They needed to round out the edges, but they needed to keep some of the voices in the locker room.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker is the only player who played significant minutes who left the team, but still needed someone to settle the team down in the locker room, and that is experienced veteran Joe Ingles.
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The team was not willing to let him go just yet, as they signed him to a $3.6 million contract for the 2025-26 season.
Related: Josh Hart Facing Backlash for Reaction to Timberwolves, Joe Ingles News
The Veteran's Role In The Timberwolves Locker Room
While the Timberwolves have a young roster, the importance of an experienced veteran is key. Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley Jr. are there, but they still need another voice, which was Ingles.
Anthony Edwards is the clear superstar and leader, but he needs more teammates to bounce off of. Ingles is a good player for that role, as he can also step in and be the cerebral player Finch needs on the court when needed.
He has often been brought in to inbound the ball, but that is an admirable skill. If he can continue as the smart player the Timberwolves need, he will have a role, even if it's on the bench for most nights.
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"Locker room dynamics play a big role in team success, and Connelly pays as much attention to them as any lead executive in the league," The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski said about the Timberwolves' reasoning behind this move.
Ingles Is A Positive Presence For The Timberwolves
While his veteran leadership is important for the Timberwolves, Ingles brings a positive vibe to the team. He is beloved around the league as a jolly person, which is crucial for a team competing at the highest level.
A player who brings the mood up is vital. Edwards is notable for his positive mindset with his teammates, but having an experienced player like Ingles do the same is crucial for the team.
As long as Ingles is on the team, the Timberwolves can always have a pleasant environment. At the same time, Ingles will not be the one to mince words, as he will criticize his teammates when needed. He is on a small contract, so this will likely work out because he plays a small but monumental role.
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Related: The Real Reason Behind Joe Ingles' First Start This Season
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
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