Joe Ingles signs 2-year deal with Melbourne United for NBL return

Australian basketball legend Joe Ingles has signed a two-year contract to join Melbourne United in the National Basketball League, marking a full-circle return to the city where his professional career began. The 38-year-old veteran, who recently concluded a 12-year NBA career after his Minnesota Timberwolves were eliminated from the playoffs, will return to the NBL next season.

Ingles described the move as an incredibly special homecoming. He began his professional career with the now-defunct South Dragons in 2006, winning an NBL championship with the club in 2009 before it folded. Originally from Adelaide, he returns to Melbourne with his wife, Renae, and their three children. "Coming home to Melbourne feels incredibly special," Ingles said. "To return to where my professional career began almost 20 years ago is something I don't take for granted. We're really excited to reconnect with the community here, and to be closer to family and friends again."

The decorated forward, a member of Australia's bronze medal-winning Boomers team at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, brings a wealth of experience. His career includes five Olympic appearances, four FIBA World Cups, eight NBA playoff...