Aussie basketball veteran Joe Ingles has signed a one-year, $3.6 million deal ($5.4 million AUD) extension with the Minnesota Timberwolves for a second season, as reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania.
While this salary is a substantial sum among Australian athletes, it represents the NBA’s veteran minimum for the 36-year-old shooting guard.
Free agent forward Joe Ingles intends to sign a one-year, $3.6 million deal to return to the Minnesota Timberwolves, sources tell ESPN. Wolves officials negotiated the deal with Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports to bring Ingles back for his 12th NBA season. pic.twitter.com/EHUd73sf9u
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2025
If Ingles plays the full 82-game season, he would earn over $65,000 per game. However, last season, he appeared in just 19 games , logging a total of 114 minutes with 15 points, 23 assists, 11 rebounds, and an average of 6 minutes per game.
Based on his averages from the season just gone, under his new contract, Ingles is set to earn approximately $285,000 AUD per game, translating to about $47,000 AUD for every minute he spends on the court.
Though despite his limited court time, Ingles occasionally contributed as an inbound passing specialist and even earned one start in back March, marking a special family moment as his son, who has autism, attended his first ever game. Head coach Chris Finch called it one of the highlights of the Timberwolves’ season.
The contract underscores the value of Ingles’ leadership and experience, as he is expected to transition into more of a mentorship role within the locker room rather than being a regular rotation player.
While Ingles celebrated his new contract and his 12th year in the NBA, New York Knicks forward Josh Hart couldn’t resist a lighthearted jab. Known for his humor and online banter, Hart tweeted sarcastically: “Man, someone tell him to go ahead and retire already.”
Man someone tell him to go head and retire already https://t.co/Dc1JzkfBYd
— Josh Hart (@joshhart) June 30, 2025
Far from being disrespectful, the comment aligns with an NBA tradition of playfully acknowledging a player’s longevity in the league.
After all, if people are joking about how long you’ve been around, it’s usually a sign you’ve done something right.
