Veteran swingman Joe Ingles is now “close” to making his debut for the Milwaukee Bucks, head coach Mike Budenholzer announced on Sunday before their matchup with the Houston Rockets (h/t The Athletic’s Eric Nehm).
“I think it’s fair to say he’s getting close. I mean, if you’re playing with our G League group and you’re playing five on five and live action – but again, part of the questions towards the end of (Khris Middleton‘s rehab) is, you’ve got to get to a conditioning level to be ready to play in an NBA game,” Budenholzer said. “You’ve got to get kind of, I would say, a significant number of reps of just playing and doing things and building up just everything it takes to go into playing an NBA game. So, hopefully, somewhere there is an answer for you.”
Ingles was given a $6.479MM taxpayer midlevel exception by the Bucks with their partnership the last offseason, but he is yet to make a season debut as he is still rehabbing from his ACL tear.
Earlier this week, he was tapped twice to participate on Bucks’ G League affiliate Wisconsin Herd for his continued progress on his road to full recovery.
Ingles, 35, notably played his whole career in the NBA with the Utah Jazz. He is expected to provide an added ball-handling presence, shooting, and veteran leadership in Milwaukee’s continuing quest for another title.
