Joe Ingles Sends Message to Jazz on Doorstep of Return to Utah
Two former Utah Jazz players return to Vivint arena on Friday night, one of whom will play. Joe Ingles and Jae Crowder return with the league-leading Milwaukee Bucks to take on the Jazz. Crowder has been ruled out with a calf injury.
Both players were seen as fan favorites during their time in Utah and have always praised the organization and the fans. For Ingles, this is his first time returning to Salt Lake City since being traded, and he had an emotional response when asked how he is approaching the game:
"I don't really know what it's gonna be like, to be honest," Ingles said via Gabe Stoltz of Hoops Hype. "I hadn't thought about it much because it was so far away for so long and then obviously the last few days with a few people with tickets... I think it'll be nice to see the people that, like I said, help you on a daily, like the security that's there every day and the people that I grew relationships with, like it was my first experience. It was home for eight years. My kids grew up there. Jack, my youngest, was born there. It was kind of all my family knew for eight years. Like my kids think snow for Christmas is normal and snow in Australia is not normal so they're gonna get a shock when we move back. Obviously, a lot of great memories... a lot of big games, played with some great players, a great coach—and a great organization. They know what they're doing over there."
Joe Ingles is having another impressive year shooting the ball and will surely be looking to continue his tear from three (currently leading the league in three-point percentage in March at 57%). Every game going down the stretch will be big for the Jazz as they fight for play-in position.
"Obviously, going forward, wish them all the best with kind of how they're building and re-tooling and doing what they're doing," Ingles told Hoops Hype. "Got a great coach and Ryan's gonna spend the money to do what he has to do to make them back to that winning organization which their fans deserve. They pack that place out every night, so, yeah, I don't really know what it'll be like. It'll be fun."
It won't be easy with Lauri Markkanen ruled out of Friday night's action. Additionally, the Jazz will take on the best team in the league with an MVP candidate in Giannis Antetokounmpo and a potential revenge game from a former Jazz legend in Ingles.
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