Joe Ingles On Donovan Mitchell: ‘I Think He’ll Play For’ Knicks
Nov 1, 2023, 2:00 PM
Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz and Joe Ingles #2 react after a basket by Mitchell in the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on November 16, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Jazz 113-107. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Former Donovan Mitchell teammate Joe Ingles said he thinks the All-Star will suit up for the New York Knicks in the future.
Ingles joined DJ and PK on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone Wednesday and discussed Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers, as well as his own role with the Orlando Magic.
You can listen to the full interview in the player below.
Ingles Believes Donovan Mitchell Will Play For Knicks
Ingles and Mitchell were teammates together in Utah from 2017-2022 when the Australian guard was sent to the Portland Trail Blazers at the trade deadline.
Mitchell was traded to the Cavaliers later that year but was strongly linked to the Knicks throughout the summer.
Though Mitchell didn’t land with the Knicks last offseason, Ingles said he believed the New York native would play for his hometown team at some point in his career.
“This is like non-bias, no outside info, I think he’ll play for New York one day, whether that’s sooner or later,” Ingles said. “I think it would be great for New York and I think it would be great for him. Whether or not that actually happens we’ll wait and see.”
Former @utahjazz fan favorite Joe Ingles is set to join the @OrlandoMagic, per @ChrisBHaynes.#NBAFreeAgency #NBA #TakeNote #MagicTogether https://t.co/egvxrG2LK4
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) June 30, 2023
The Knicks could have taken Mitchell with the eighth pick of the 2017 NBA Draft but opted for guard Frank Ntilikina instead.
While fans in New York may be waiting for Mitchell to one day don a Knicks uniform, Ingles said Mitchell is happy as a member of the Cavaliers.
“He’s really enjoying it there,” Ingles said. “He’s a New York kid, obviously it’s always going to get brought up, but he genuinely is enjoying — he enjoys the group.”
The Cavaliers are off to a slow start in their 2023-24 campaign. The injury-riddled roster is 1-3 to open the year after finishing last season with a 51-31 record.
Mitchell is expected to hit free agency in 2025.
Ingles will return to Utah to face the Jazz on Thursday, November 2 with the Magic.
Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10-12p with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops or on Instagram @BensHoops.
