13. Utah Jazz Guard Joe Ingles

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Jazz open their season on October 20, just 13 days from today. With the clock ticking, we look at 50 things for Jazz fans to be excited about leading up to the 2021-22 NBA season. Coming in at number 13, Jazz guard Joe Ingles.

Jazz Guard Joe Ingles

Joe Ingles enters the final year of his contract with the Jazz, set to make $14 million after turning 34 earlier this month.

The guard is coming off a terrific performance in the postseason when he was tasked with replacing the injured Mike Conley against the Los Angeles Clippers.

In five games as a starter in the All-Star guard’s absence, Ingles averaged 15.4 points, 4.4 assists, and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 54 percent from the floor and 45 percent from the three-point line.

Our countdown of the top 50 reasons to be excited for the 2021-22 @utahjazz season. #TakeNote https://t.co/X45AS6m2de

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 8, 2021

After the Jazz were eliminated from the postseason, Ingles followed up his strong playoff performances with an even better showing at the Tokyo Olympics where he led Australia to the country’s first-ever appearance on the medal podium.

In six games Ingles averaged 11.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.0 assists to help carry the Boomers to the bronze medal.

Though he’s stated he plans to explore his basketball future after his contract expires this season, Ingles sounded like a player who is far from finished in the NBA when the team opened training camp.

“I feel really energized about it, it’s almost like you get a bit of success and you want more and more of it,” Ingles said of wanting to carry his Olympic success over to the Jazz. “I think that’s what a lot of guys were feeling after that.”

"I feel like I've got a lot left in me."

Joe Ingles said winning a bronze medal energized him, it didn't feel like the beginning of the end of his career.

"You get a bit of success and you want more and more of it." @KSLSports | #TakeNote

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) September 27, 2021

Ingles will be a key piece in Quin Snyder’s rotation once again after finish second in voting for the league’s Sixth Man of the Year award behind teammate Jordan Clarkson, though he hasn’t seen the floor so far in the preseason.

After Ingles’ busy summer in Tokyo, the guard has rested through each of the team’s two preseason games.

Now, whether Ingles returns to the Jazz after the season may depend on a few factors. First, the guard may opt to retire after winning a silver medal, choosing to return to Australia to be closer to his and his wife Renae’s family where they can raise their three children.

The Jazz decision may also be impacted by how deep in the luxury tax the team is, and the asking price for Ingles to return. Furthermore, and somewhat ironically, rookie Jared Butler’s breakout performance in Ingles’ absence over the last two preseason games could also help determine the guard’s future with the roster.

Jared Butler has led the @utahjazz in scoring in both preseason games so far. #TakeNotehttps://t.co/QbuvMormgX

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 7, 2021

With Butler locked into a minimum salary and the team looking to avoid further tax penalties, the Jazz could prefer to let their young guard develop rather than paying the potentially high cost to retain Ingles.

Regardless of his future plans, Ingles is a key piece to the Jazz success. How he performs this season is one of the top storylines as we count down to opening night.