Joe Ingles’ breakout year for the Utah Jazz strikes another resounding note. He’s now etched his name into the team’s record book.
The Utah Jazz had a pretty good Saturday night. Despite 14 3-pointers from the Sacramento Kings, the Jazz band were able to hold them off for a six-point win. It was their ninth straight victory and 21st in 23 tries. Along the way, the team moved into the top five of the Western Conference table.
Donovan Mitchell led the way with 28 points and Rudy Gobert stifled Sac-Town down low. For me though, the most resounding notes were struck by Joe Ingles.
Not only did he put together a sweet all-around line — 14 points, nine assists and seven rebounds — but he managed to make a bit of Jazz history in the process. Ingles hit three 3-pointers on the night; his transition triple with just over two minutes left in the contest officially netted him the franchise’s single-season 3-point record.
With several games still left to play, Ingles has now tallied 179 3-point shots. Utah’s previous all-time mark was 178, set by Randy Foye during the 2012-13 campaign.
Now, tell me if this isn’t the most Joe Ingles-est thing ever. The 30-year-old Aussie didn’t even realize he had made history until he received a text from his wife, Renae, informing him as much —
Joe Ingles said his wife, Renae, informed him after the game that he set the Jazz franchise record for most 3-pointers made in a single season. “It’s an honor,” @Joeingles7 said. pic.twitter.com/OtKIQe1cQJ
— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) March 18, 2018
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Ingles’ long-range shooting hasn’t just been good for the Jazz (although it’s definitely been huge for the team). He’s connecting from deep at a world-class level. His 3-point shooting percentage of 45 percent currently tops the NBA. Not only that — his career percentage has ballooned to over 41 percent as a result.
That number currently puts him at No. 12 all-time in league history; higher than players like Jeff Hornacek, Mark Price, Peja Stojakovic, Ray Allen and Reggie Miller. In other words, the best of the best.
It’s an incredible feat for anyone on the hardwood, but doubly so for a guy that almost didn’t have an NBA career at all.
Ingles may never make an All-Star team or ink a multi-million dollar endorsement deal, but the numbers don’t lie.
His hot shooting doesn’t just hold a spot in Utah’s record books. It rates with the best we’ve ever seen in the sport.