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Utah Jazz: Will Joe Ingles’ No. 2 jersey hang in the rafters one day?

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 27: Joe Ingles #2 of the Utah Jazz looks to shoot a three point basket against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of a NBA game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 27, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 27: Joe Ingles #2 of the Utah Jazz looks to shoot a three point basket against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of a NBA game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 27, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)

In 2014, you’d do a lot more than call me crazy if I were to suggest Joe Ingles could have his jersey retired by the Utah Jazz one day. That statement wouldn’t look too bad if said in the present.

Manu Ginobili‘s jersey retirement in San Antonio on Thursday night was beautiful and a long time coming. The whole gang was there: Manu, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Gregg Popovich. Personally, I think the Spurs are the best franchise in all of sports. They’re a blueprint to success and I think every NBA team should model themselves after them.

The Utah Jazz are in the midst of doing that. They play a beautiful style of basketball — unselfish and together. They also could follow in the Spurs footsteps as far as having a player that was counted out end up having their jersey retired. Yes, I think Joe Ingles could quite possibly get his own jersey retirement one day, like Manu did on Thursday.

Ginobili, as we all know, was a second-round draft pick in 1999. The 57th pick, to be exact. Ingles wasn’t drafted, which could make his story that much sweeter. Ingles was cut by Doc Rivers and the Los Angeles Clippers before joining the Jazz in 2014. The rest — all the jingles, laughs, 3-point splashes and mind games — is history.

I’d be surprised if Jinglin’ Joe doesn’t spend his entire career with the Jazz. He had the opportunity to leave in 2017, but quickly re-signed with the team on a four-year deal. Also, on Media Day of 2017, Ingles actually said that he’ll never leave Utah.

Joe loves Utah, and Utah loves Joe. That love connection was on full display during the Jazz’s wire-to-wire victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. It was Autism Awareness night, and Joe was one rebound shy of a triple-double. After he was taken out of the game, the fans chanted. “We want Joe!”. That’s love.

So, the support is there. The longevity is there. And the on-court production has certainly gotten there. Ingles has rapidly ripped the nets and now finds himself as one of the best shooters in franchise history. He’s also played in 400 career games for the Jazz, which is a nice accomplishment.

While it’s fun to predict the future, let’s stay in the present and enjoy all the fun Joe Ingles is giving us.

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