Aussie Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles riding NBA roller-coaster

JOE Ingles’ life has resembled a roller-coaster ride over the past 12 days.

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 04: Joe Ingles #7 of Australia reacts after scoring against Great Britain during the Men's Basketball Preliminary Round match on Day 8 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Basketball Arena on August 4, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

JOE Ingles’ life has resembled a roller-coaster ride over the past 12 days.

The Aussie scored five points in 37 minutes of play over five pre-season games with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Ingles was then cut on the eve of the 2014-2015 NBA season when Clippers guard Jordan Farmar suffered a back injury. Coach Doc Rivers needed to trim his squad and chose to keep three-year veteran guard Jared Cunningham, after putting up 49 points in six games, over Ingles.

“I could see the writing on the wall a few days before the decision and I really didn’t know what I was going to do” Ingles told Melbourne radio station SEN.

Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles.

It’s the cutthroat business of the NBA, but as one door closes another one opens.

After the disappointment of being cut by the Clippers, the Utah Jazz opted to bolster their depth by claiming the Australian off waivers.

“I was having lunch on Monday at Santa Monica pier and got a phone call saying that Utah had picked me up and I got on a plane that afternoon,” Ingles said.

“I flew in there Monday night and played in my first game on Wednesday after one practice so it’s been a whirlwind but it’s been an awesome experience.”

The 27-year-old joined fellow Boomer and fifth overall pick Dante Exum and shared the court with him during his first two games against Houston and Dallas.

Ingles and Exum rekindled their friendship after rooming together during the FIBA World Cup in Spain. Exum grew up idolising Ingles during the latter’s NBL career.

“I think it will be really good for both of us. It always helps when you come into a new situation and there’s someone you know really well there.”

Utah lost those games but Ingles suited up two days later in their 118-91 victory over the Phoenix Suns. The Boomers representative played 15 minutes in which he registered three assists, two rebounds and one steal in an appearance that also had no turnovers.

His transition to the Jazz has been smooth and Ingles puts that down to his ability to learn new schemes very quickly — a skill he polished during his time with Barcelona.

Ingles is thankful for the opportunity presented by the Jazz and is relishing the chance to prove himself to head coach Quin Snyder.

Judging from his appearance against the Suns, he has the potential to become a vital part of Utah’s second team.

“They’re different players,” said Snyder about Ingles and former Toronto Raptor Jordan Hamilton, who was also signed by the Jazz

“They both have good size, and we like the fact that they’re in the program.”

Originally published as Aussie Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles riding NBA roller-coaster