The Timberwolves did something very thoughtful for Jazz alum Joe Ingles

Joe Ingles may not be with the Utah Jazz anymore, but because of how well-liked he was by fans from start to finish, it's not shocking at all when fans still check in on him.

At 37 years old, Ingles is not the player he was back when he played in Utah from 2014 to 2022, but he is still among the most respected vets in the NBA. Ingles hasn't factored much into how the Timberwolves' season has gone since he signed there, but they did something really amazing last night for Ingles and his family.

With his family in town, head coach Chris Finch elected to start Ingles so that his wife and children could see their dad play. That includes Ingles' son Jacob, who is autistic.

Being in loud and crowded arenas can be very difficult for people with autism, making it all the more heartwarming that Ingles' family attended and that the Timberwolves made sure that they could watch the esteemed Jazz alum take the floor, even if it wasn't for very long.

Ingles played only six minutes and didn't do much for them. He committed two personal fouls, had a turnover, missed all three field goal attempts, and dished out one assist. Ultimately, it didn't matter because the special occasion outweighed everything else. Besides, the Timberwolves won the game pretty handily anyway.

It actually became even more special as more details trickled out. Ingles' family currently resides in Orlando - where Ingles played last year - so the Timberwolves playing in New Orleans gave them the rare opportunity to drive up to see him play.

Ingles has talked about his role in raising Jacob in the past

Back when Ingles played for Utah, he talked about what it was like to raise a son with autism with The Athletic's Tony Jones. Following their son's diagnosis, Ingles has become an advocate for autism awareness.

In fact, after the game, Ingles talked about what it's like to raise a child with autism. Even though he's richer than most parents are, which means he can get his son the help he needs, Ingles still faces the challenges any parent would.

Stories like this made Ingles such an easy player for fans to gravitate to back when he played for the Jazz. Because he had to work from the ground up and because he tries his best to be a family man while maintaining his NBA career, it's very easy to be a fan favorite.

Ingles may not be the player he was back when he donned a Jazz uniform, but his likability has not and likely never will waver.