Utah Jazz swingman Joe Ingles has been recognized for his outstanding season last campaign, coming in at number 53 on ESPN’s top 100 players in the association.
The Australian-born forward was a steady presence on both ends for the Jazz, who shocked everyone after finishing the season with a 48-34 record and the fifth seed in the tough Western Conference. Ingles and the Jazz went on to beat the heavily-favored Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round to cap off a truly extraordinary campaign under Quin Snyder, after losing franchise player Gordon Hayward in the summer before.
Although not the biggest name or flashiest player, Ingles brought a certain toughness and consistency that allowed the team to flourish. He appeared in all 82 games last season, which was more than the previous three seasons combined. In just over 31 minutes a night, the 30-year-old averaged 11.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game. As you can see, Ingles' averages illustrate his transformation into one of the underrated players in the league at doing multiple things on the floor on a nightly basis.
It’s clear Ingles all-around game is impressive, but his biggest influence for the Jazz may be his ability to stretch the floor and knock down jump shots from beyond the arc. Ingles ranked fourth in the entire league last season in 3-point percentage at a staggering 44 percent from downtown, and his presence from deep is a central reason why the Jazz remain effective on offense despite their lack of 3-point specialists in comparison to other Western Conference powerhouses.
After not being ranked at all last season by ESPN, coming in at number 53 before this upcoming campaign displays the growth he has undergone in the league. At a time where the league demands two-way players that can help teams in multiple ways, Ingles’ worth is right now at an all-time high.
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