Photo: Orlando Magic/Twitter

Veteran forward Joe Ingles hasn’t seen much action on the court this season, but Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch made a heartfelt decision to start him in Friday’s game for a deeply personal reason.

According to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic, Finch’s gesture was meant to honor Ingles’ 8-year-old son, Jacob, who has autism.

Recently, Jacob was able to sit through an entire game without experiencing sensory overload – a significant milestone for the family.

Wanting to create a special moment, Finch ensured that Jacob could watch his father in action from the opening tip.

The decision resonated deeply with the player, who cherished the experience.

“This is the stuff,” Ingles said, “I’ll remember forever.”

Ingles has played 11 seasons for 4 teams, including the Jazz and Magic. He has averaged 7.9 points, 3.6 assists, and 3.0 rebounds in 723 regular-season games.