With the Utah Jazz reopening their practice facility last Monday for the first time since the league suspension in mid-March, it has been revealed that at least one of their players has refused to return for individual workouts. Jazz forward Joe Ingles himself has come out to say that at this point, he has no intention of returning to the team's practice facility, with one of his primary reasons being the safety of his pregnant wife, Renae.
“Obviously the secret of Renae being pregnant was a big part of it,” Ingles said on a recent appearance on 1280 The Zone, via Sarah Todd of DessertNews. “It’s not worth it. I’ve got a gym, I’ve got everything I can do. Basketball-wise it’s a bit more difficult but I think as we go along and find out more information about this whole thing it’ll make a decision easier. But there’s no way I’m willing to risk my children and Renae and all that to go and shoot a basketball.”
Joe Ingles does have a point here, and he is just one of the many personalities around the NBA who have likewise been hesitant with regards to the NBA's decision to re-open practice facilities. Ingles, however, is being very straightforward here with his intention not to heed the call.
Ingles did say that he will be open to the possibility of returning, but only once there is more clarity about the entire situation.
“They’ve made measures to go in there pretty dramatic,” Ingles said. “I went through the process to see what it was like and it’s pretty in-depth. Come the right time I’ll go in there and start getting ready but we need a bit more information on whether we’re going to play or not and I think my decision will be made after that.”
Rudy Gobert, the first NBA player to test positive for the coronavirus, is Ingles' teammate with the Jazz, so perhaps this too has influenced Ingles' decision here.
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