Joe Ingles is in the twilight of his NBA career. After a successful eight-year duration with the Utah Jazz that ended with a torn ACL, he has become a journeyman. After spending a year each with the Milwaukee Bucks and Orlando Magic, he has recently joined the Minnesota Timberwolves, playing only 108 minutes across 18 appearances this season.

However, when the Timberwolves met the New Orleans Pelicans, Ingles was in the starting lineup. This decision wasn’t due to injury; all typical starters played. With nine wins in their last eleven games, the Wolves had no motivation for changes. The decision was made by head coach Chris Finch for a more uplifting reason.

The Ingles family has been in Orlando this season, leaving Joe alone in Minnesota. Recently, a family member reached a significant milestone: Jacob, Joe’s son who is autistic, attended his first NBA game in an arena, but Joe wasn’t on the floor. With the family visiting again, Finch ensured Jacob could watch his father play by having him start.

During a post-game interview, Finch expressed his emotional connection to the decision:

“It was emotional. Sometimes you’ve gotta do the human thing. We always talk about, all of these minutes matter, but those minutes matter for another reason. Someone gave me the idea today to ensure Joe could see the floor. If we’re going to do it, let’s do it in style.”

Ingles appreciated the gesture, stating:

“The fact that it even crossed his mind shows a lot.”

Ingles, admired for his advocacy for autism awareness following his son’s diagnosis, created a lasting memory not only for his family but also helped to promote understanding for other families within the NBA community.