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The true reason Minnesota Timberwolves brought back Joe Ingles revealed, it has nothing to do with his performance

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Aikansh Chaudhary | Last updated Jul 2, 2025 4:00 PM ET

The Minnesota Timberwolves have ensured key veteran returns to the team ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have enjoyed great success in the last two seasons, reaching the Western Conference Finals on each occasion.

As for the upcoming season, the team’s goal should be to cross that hurdle and reach the 2026 NBA Finals. However, if that’s the goal, bringing back 37-year-old Joe Ingles seems like a surprising move.

In fact, New York Knicks star Josh Hart urged Ingles to retire amid his return to the Timberwolves. So, what’s the reason behind the T-Wolves investing in the veteran forward?

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Joe Ingles’ re-signing was due to ‘locker room dynamics’

For the Timberwolves, the pecking order is as clear as day. Anthony Edwards is the superstar with the likes of Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert being his second-in-command.

Additionally, Naz Reid is expected to be the defensive anchor of the team. Hence, the Timberwolves re-signed him to a five-year, $125 million deal.

So, where does Joe Ingles fit in this dynamic? Well, according to The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski, the Timberwolves see locker-room value in keeping Ingles on the roster.

“The logic is rooted in a long-running philosophical preference of president of basketball operations Tim Connelly and coach Chris Finch,” Krawczynski wrote.

He added: “Locker room dynamics play a big role in team success, and Connelly pays as much attention to them as any lead executive in the league.”

Ingles played in just 19 games last season, averaging 0.8 points, 0.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game for the organization.

Joe Ingles was brought in as Kyle Anderson’s replacement

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Having a locker room leader is just as important as having a superstar on the court. After all, without that figure, a team could blow up from inside.

Fans saw that with the Golden State Warriors following Draymond Green and Jordan Poole’s scuffle in 2022.

“The Wolves sold him [Ingles] on a Kyle Anderson-like role after Anderson, a favorite of Finch’s, left in free agency,” Krawczynski continued.

He concluded by stating: “The two-for-one deal took most of the minutes that otherwise could have been allotted to Ingles, who took the change in stride.”

Fast forward to the summer of 2025 and it feels like Ingles has fulfilled that role for the Timberwolves. Keeping that in mind, fans shouldn’t expect to see Ingles much on the court.

Last season, he featured in just 114 minutes for the organization. With him turning 38 years old during the upcoming season, it wouldn’t be a surprise if head coach Chris Finch further slashes his minutes on the court.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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