The Adelaide 36ers have had a remarkable off-season so far; they broke the internet when they signed five-time league MVP Bryce Cotton, and backed that up by bringing back former NBA Sixth-Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell.
They also made impressive moves around the margins, signing rising young talent such as Flynn Cameron and Michael Harris
But they have been unsuccessful in their biggest attempt, making a Hail Mary play for one of Australia's biggest NBA stars.
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Joe Ingles rejects recruiting pitch from Adelaide 36ers
Joe Ingles will not be joining the Adelaide 36ers, despite reporting that the NBL franchises had made a pitch to the Boomers veteran.
Wife Renae Ingles shut down any speculation of a return to his hometown team via her Instagram, simply posting to her story "No, he’s not playing for the Adelaide 36ers," as well confirming that he would not be retiring - "No, Joe has not retired, he’s still in the game."
With head coach Mike Wells having acted as an assistant coach during Ingles' time with the Utah Jazz, the 36ers had gauged the interest of the current NBA free agent and Adelaide-born player, hoping to lure him home, but this has not eventuated.
"I had Joe Ingles for eight years in Utah, he's an Adelaide guy, he's somebody who I really am close to and I always told him the whole time 'I’m going to Australia to coach'," Wells said in 2024 after being hired as the 36ers coach.
"He’s like 'Yeah, right, yeah, yeah, you’re not going to'.
"He and Dante Exum were two guys who reached out to me right away and I said 'I kept telling you guys' so I had to back up my word on that.
"Everybody we’ve come in contact with have gone out of their way to make us feel welcome, it’s been outstanding. That’s what Joe Ingles told me. He’s an Adelaide boy, 'Greatest city in the world,' and I said, "Why don't you come on home then?"
Ingles is coming off his 11th season in the league, largely a veteran presence for a Minnesota Timberwolves team who made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals.
This news comes just days after Ingles' long-time Boomers running mate Patty Mills was himself linked to the NBL, with speculation that the NBA champion could become part of the Cairns Taipans, as a player and a potential owner.