$145M Ingles, 38, linked with 37yo Chris Goulding

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As Australian Boomers bronze medallist and NBA veteran Joe Ingles was making sure his Minnesota teammates didn’t leave the bench during a melee at the end of Game 4 against the Denver Nuggets, speculation mounted that he would join Melbourne United for NBL27.

Ingles, 38, along with Australian rookie teammate Rocco Zikarksy – in street clothes – stayed on the bench as Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokić took exception to Timberwolves’ Jaden McDaniels laying the ball in at the end of regulation as Minnesota took a 3-1 lead – 112-96 – in their first round series.

South Australian-born Ingles is in his 12th season in the NBA and is now a bench leader for the Timberwolves. He has signed back-to-back one-year deals with the Western Conference title contender and is an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season.

ESPN’s Olgun Uluc reports: “Joe Ingles – a five-time Olympian and 12-year NBA veteran – plans to join Melbourne United ahead of the 2026-27 NBL season, sources told ESPN. Ingles, 38, is in a playoff campaign with Minnesota; once his NBA season is complete, he’ll move toward finalising a deal with United.”

It means United head coach Dean Vickerman would have two starters aged 39 and Chris Goulding, 38, in NBL27 to form a core with 27-year-old Sam Waardenburg, who United pilfered away from the Cairns Taipans on April 20, 2026.

Only Waardenburg – of the seven contracted players on the roster – is locked in beyond NBL27.

Atlanta Hawks star Dyson Daniels’ younger brother, Dash Daniels, has decided not to declare for the 2026 NBA Draft. The NBL Next Star, who turns 19 on December 18, 2026, opted to spend the last year of his contract at home in Melbourne.

Melbourne United Contracted Group

• Guard: Chris Goulding – 192cm – NBL27
• Guard: Shea Ili – 184cm – NBL27
• Guard: Dash Daniels – 196cm – Next Star (NBL27)
• Forward: Kyle Bowen – 204cm – NBL27
• Forward: Fabijan Krslovic – 203cm – NBL27
• Forward: Sam Waardenburg – 208cm – NBL29
• Guard: Christian D’Angelo – 191cm – Development Player (NBL27)

Melbourne United Free Agents

• Wing: Milton Doyle – 193cm
• Guard: Tanner Krebs – 198cm
• Guard: Malith Machar – 198cm
• Guard: Tyson Walker – 185cm
• Guard: Tom Wilson – 194cm
• Forward: Tom Koppens – 201cm
• Centre: Jesse Edwards – 213cm

Departing Melbourne United players

• Guard: Campbell Blogg – 194cm – Northern Colorado (NCAA)
• Forward: Finn Delany – 200cm – International opportunities
• Forward: Henry Sewell – Portland (NCAA)

Ingles signing with United, amid murmurs that his hometown Adelaide 36ers were interested, gives the near-perennial NBL Grand Finalists another NBA veteran to try to get them over the hump.

How much six-time MVP Bryce Cotton's response to the speculation of Ingles joining the 36ers played a role in his decision to knock back Adelaide is anyone's guess.

“I’m not sure. I’d have to take a look at Joe, see how he’s moving these days,” Cotton told SEN in South Australia in the days after Adelaide lost a five-game Grand Final Series to the Sydney Kings.

“I haven’t watched a lot of the NBA this year.

At this stage, we want to make sure anybody we sign can definitely help us on the court.

“It’s not about just signing a big name.”

Vickerman lost 35-year-old NBA championship point guard Matthew Dellavedova to the Sydney Kings before NBL26 – he led them to the championship, while United started on fire, but tilted out of the playoffs.

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch has repeatedly praised Ingles for how he has embraced his veteran leadership and bench role in Minnesota .

“I just love – I’ve said it – I love being around the guys. I love the competitiveness of every day,” Ingles said.

“Even playing in the sizzle games and that, I don’t know if you guys – you probably don’t get to see it – but it’s really competitive and it’s fun.

“I’ve always said to the young guys, you’re not going to play in the game much at all, or if any.

“This is a game for us, so take it as serious as you can. I’ve seen those days where you don’t have it.

“My first year in Orlando with a younger group, I really enjoyed that and helping those guys.

“Then obviously coming here, for a team that’s been in a lot of series and is still so young — Jaden’s so young, all these guys are still so young – so yeah, it’s been fine.

“Obviously, the only part that sucks is my family’s not here. Apart from that, I’d do it forever if I could.

“They need to put a spot like the kickers in football – just inbound. You can take half, take a little pay cut or something, and I’ll do it.”

Ingles’ move back to the NBL is more about legacy than money. The left-handed 2.03m small forward has banked more than USD $91M in his NBA career.

Joe Ingles – Career Earnings

• Total NBA career earnings: USD $91,513,467
• 11-year NBA career with Utah, Milwaukee, Orlando, and Minnesota
• Peak contract: 4 years, USD $52M (Utah Jazz)
• Current deal (2025–26): USD $3.63M with Minnesota Timberwolves

AUD conversion (approx.)

• ~$140–145 million AUD (depending on exchange rate)

Ingles started his professional career with South Dragons, the first player to sign with the club in 2006, winning the NBL championship in 2009 before heading to Europe and then earning his first NBA contract with the Utah Jazz in 2014. Ingles is a legend in Utah.

He played 590 games in eight seasons for the Jazz, averaging 8.6 points (41% from three), 3.8 assists and 3.2 rebounds.