23
Aug
Melbourne United
Ingles injury scare as he limps out of pre-season 'Throwdown'
Melbourne United star Joe Ingles pulls up after jamming his ankle in the NBL27 pre-season clash against South East Melbourne United on Saturday, August 22, 2026. Photo: NBL.com.au.
Highlights
Joe Ingles left the floor with a jammed ankle, but Melbourne United are not concerned
- Joe Ingles jammed his ankle and did not return to the pre-season game
- He walked off unaided and received no treatment on the bench
- South East Melbourne Phoenix came back to win 91-89
Australian Boomers legend Joe Ingles left the floor with a jammed ankle in Melbourne United's pre-season loss to the South East Melbourne Phoenix on Saturday night, but the early signs are good.
Ingles, 38, pulled up abruptly while driving down the floor with six minutes left in the fourth quarter. He walked off unaided, limping, and did not return. He received no treatment on the bench.
"The early word out of Melbourne United is quite positive," ESPN's Olgun Uluc reported.
"Joe Ingles just jammed his ankle on this play; he has some stiffness in the aftermath, but there doesn't seem to be too much concern at all."
It was only Ingles' second game in United colours since he returned to the NBL after 12 years in the NBA.
The five-time Olympian and Olympic bronze medallist signed with United in the off-season as the headline piece of a roster rebuild that also brought in Cole Anthony, Luke Travers, Josh Oduro, Sam Waardenburg and Sean Macdonald alongside Chris Goulding and Shea Ili.
"It's not about the starting or how many minutes or the money," Ingles said of the move earlier this month.
"I wouldn't have come back if I didn't think I could help."
The game itself got away from United. They led 79-69 when Ingles went down, and the Phoenix finished with a run to win 91-89 and take the early bragging rights between the two Melbourne clubs.
United open NBL27 against Bryce Cotton and the Adelaide 36ers at John Cain Arena on Saturday, September 19.
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