Shots fired: 'I'm not coming back to finish fifth'

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Australian basketball legend Joe Ingles has sent a broadside to the rest of the NBL ahead of the 2026-2 season: “I want to win. I’m not coming back to finish fifth or fourth or whatever it is.”

“I want to win. There’s no hiding that,” Ingles told ESPN’s Olgun Uluc this week.

Ingles, 38, retired from the NBA after 12 seasons shortly after the Minnesota Timberwolves were eliminated from the 2026 NBA Playoffs by Victor Wembanyama's San Antonio Spurs in six games eight days ago.

The South Australian wing signed with Melbourne United just days later, returning to the city where his NBL career started with South Dragons 20 years ago.

“I’m not doing it for financial needs,” Ingles said.

“I’m not doing it for the notoriety of coming back.

“I’ve played 20 years professionally. I’ve played 12 in the NBA. I’ve done five Olympics. I’ve done a lot of stuff I never thought I would do in my career.”

Ingles has more than USD $91M (AUD $145M) since joining the Utah Jazz in 2014.

The Australian Boomers Olympic Games bronze medallist has spent the past few NBA seasons on one-year deals, embracing a locker room leadership role with limited minutes – and opportunities – off the bench for the T-Wolves.

He said he was ready for the grind of NBL27.

“I wouldn’t have done this if I didn’t believe that,” Ingles declared.

“Especially later in my career, I understand where I’m at. I’m not 21 anymore. I’m very self-aware of where I’m at in my career.

“If I didn’t truly believe I could come in and make an impact and help this team win games, I wouldn’t have done it.

“Obviously, the part of coming home is massive, but also playing in those games all last year and obviously Rocco (Zikarsky) this year when he was with the Wolves and going back and forth between Iowa.

“We’d play these games – proper games, four quarters, 20–30 minute games — and I would always feel really good.

“The frustrating part, as any athlete would say, is you want to play. I want to play in front of 20,000 people at Target Center every night.

“The way our team was and the guys we had, that just wasn’t really the option.

“(Head Coach Chris Finch) was unbelievable, keeping me updated and talking to me. Even though I wasn’t playing, I still felt like I had a pretty good impact in Minnesota.

“But you still miss that competitiveness. That’s what made me start playing when I was five years old.

“I know I can still do this.

"I was lucky enough when we locked up our playoff seed that I got to play 30-something minutes against New Orleans and had a double-double.

“Personally, as a basketball player, in the back of my mind, I’m like, ‘I haven’t done this for a year and a half. How will I feel?’

“To go into that game and compete and do what I did was a bit of a tick in the box of, ‘Yeah, I know I can still do this’.

“For me now, not playing consistently in two years, it’s about getting into game shape and getting my legs under me.

“After what I’ve been able to do the last couple of years with the Wolves, there were no question marks in my mind after that game that I could do this.”

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United’s roster is still under construction and in search of a new head coach, but Ingles said he was excited to play alongside Boomers teammate Chris Goulding, not against Shea Ili, and freshly signed big man Sam Waardenburg.

“I wish all the best to Dean (Vickerman),” Ingles said.

“Having a couple of conversations with him was part of the process.

“I’d worked out with Melbourne before, years ago, when I’d come back, and they’d be ramping up for the season. I always loved being around him.

“He’s a super high-level coach and deserves what he’s going to get. He’s going to have a hell of a crack somewhere overseas.

“I would have hated going to another team and playing against Shea, so that’s a really nice thing not to have to deal with.

“Obviously, CG is someone I’ve played with for years with the national team. I’ve worked out with him in Melbourne before, and he’s a good friend.

“Part of the thought process was that I really feel like I can help him – getting him easier shots and good looks.

“Same with Sam. The way he can shoot the ball and what he can do offensively.

“I’m not coming back to try and take over the league. I’m going to do what I’ve done for 20 years – make my teammates better, play hard, talk a lot of beep and have fun with it.

“Watching the NBL from America, the speed and the up-and-down style stands out. That’s why getting my legs under me will be important.

“I’m really excited by the guys on the roster.

“There’s obviously a lot of work to do with the roster, but speaking to Nick and initially Dean and a little bit with Chris, the style they play and what they’ve done was really exciting.

“The fit seemed right.

“I truly believe I can help these guys.”

Melbourne United

Head coach: Vacant

Contracted: Kyle Bowen, Dash Daniels (Next Star), Christian D'Angelo, Chris Goulding, Shea Ili, Fabijan Krslovic

Incoming:
Joe Ingles – Forward (NBL26: Minnesota Timberwolves – NBA)
April 25 – ESPN’s Olgun Uluc reported Ingles will join Melbourne United following the NBA Playoffs.

Sam Waardenburg – Forward/Centre (NBL26: Cairns Taipans)
April 20 – Waardenburg signed a three-year deal with United.

Departed: Dean Vickerman (Head Coach), Campbell Blogg (UNC Bears – NCAA), Finn Delany, Tanner Krebs (to South East Melbourne Phoenix), Henry Sewell (Portland – NCAA)

Free agents: Milton Doyle, Jesse Edwards, Tom Koppens, Tanner Krebs, Malith Machar, Nicholas Tata, Tyson Walker, Tom Wilson

Transactions:
Akech Aliir – Forward
May 12 – Aliir re-signed with the Phoenix on a new two-year deal.

Potential depth chart‍

• PG: – / Shea Ili / Christian D'Angelo (DP)
• SG: Chris Goulding / Dash Daniels (NS)
• SF: Joe Ingles / –
• PF: Kyle Bowen
• C: Sam Waardenburg / Fabijan Krslovic

Remaining Roster Spots (11 Players)‍

• 3 spots remaining (8 players committed)