NBA coach gives veteran player his first start since 2022 to let his autistic son watch him play

Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch made a heartfelt decision during a recent game by calling Joe Ingles in the starting lineup for the first time since 2022. The choice allowed Joe’s autistic son, Jacob, to hear his father’s name announced in the arena while he watched from the stands, as reported by Si. The moment was shared on Instagram by Joe’s wife, Renae Ingles (@renaeingles), who wrote, "Last night, Coach Chris Finch of the Timberwolves made a heartfelt gesture by starting my husband Joe for the first time since 2022, allowing our autistic son to hear his dad’s name called out. This moment is one our family will cherish forever."

She continued, "Words can’t fully express our gratitude for such kindness. Those minutes on the court meant so much more than just a basketball game." Concluding her post, Renae wrote, "I’m incredibly proud of Jacob for all his hard work that brought him to the stands, but my heart swells with pride for Joe. It’s a testament to his character, and to the amazing people in this organization who recognize him and would do something like this for him." The Ingles family has been living in Orlando throughout the season and has only recently traveled to Minnesota. Jacob wasn’t the only one in the family who heard Joe’s name in the lineup that night, but for him, it carried extra meaning.

Earlier in the week, he had attended his first full NBA game but didn’t get to see his father on the court. Coach Finch made sure that wouldn’t happen again. Joe started in the game against the New Orleans Pelicans, marking his first start since January 30, 2022, when he was with the Utah Jazz. He played six minutes in the first quarter, missed three shots, and recorded a +1 plus/minus. Seeing the Instagram post, many in the comments shared their appreciation for the moment.

@mat_rogers6 wrote, "That’s all time! What a coach, an organization and what a family. Miss you all. So cool." @scotty71sa commented, "Says a lot about the people and club you have around you. Amazing. These are the memories that count." @cg19_82 added, "This was awesome by Joe and the Wolves. Love to you and your family." @s_kearns2 said, "Joe is a legendary basketball player and an even better person. Happy for your family. Much love from Utah." @mcoops29 shared, "So much love to you Ingles whānau! This is so precious and amazing for Joe to be part of an organization that appreciates the humanistic side. Big hugs."

@jess776 penned, "Still a BIG Joe fan here in Utah! He was always a class act and I still love watching him play! Wish they knew how valuable he was. What a great moment for your family!" The Timberwolves also posted a short interview with Ingles on X on their page @Timberwolves. While speaking about the moment, Joe said, "It’s obviously cool. They haven’t really been here all year, so to have them here for 10 days and get to play in front of him and Jacob getting two games in a row now; he stayed so hopefully I’ll have to play a little longer."

You can follow Renae Ingles (@renaeingles) on Instagram for more updates on Ingles' family.