NBA: Aussie superstar Joe Ingles suffers ACL injury against Minnesota Timberwolves

Australian basketball superstar Joe Ingles’ worst fears have been realised and he could be fighting to keep his NBA career alive.

Joe Ingles had tears in his eyes before a scan confirmed the worst news for the Australian NBA veteran who could be sidelined for up to a year after suffering an ACL injury on Monday.’

The 34-year-old’s career is on a knife-edge too with his one-year, $18m deal with the Utah Jazz expiring at the end of the season.

Ingles will have surgery within weeks and his teammate Mike Conley revealed the veteran guard, the all-time leading three-point shooter at the Jazz, was inconsolable after hurting his knee.

“Tears in his eyes,” Conley said of seeing Ingles.

”Just knowing how much this means for him, this game means to them and what we mean to him, you know, so it‘s tough.

“That took a lot out of guys seeing him with tears in his eyes.”

An MRI revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in Ingles’ left knee with no other structural damage, the Jazz confirmed.

“Ingles will remain out indefinitely with surgery taking place in the next several weeks,” a club statement said.

Ingles is in his eighth season with Utah and his teammates were rocked by the injury. It happened when Ingles’ left knee buckled as he drove through the paint in the second quarter against Minnesota.

Joe Ingles was examined Monday by the Utah Jazz medical staff and the MRI revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee with no other structural damage. Ingles will remain out indefinitely with surgery taking place in the coming weeks.https://t.co/lwAX3J8KUw

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 31, 2022

“We were thinking about him all second half, trying to get information,” teammate Bogdan Bogdanovic said.

“It was pretty bad to see him in pain.”

Ingles has escaped serious injury throughout his NBA career, notably stringing together 418 consecutive games between 2015 and 2021.

At 34 years of age, though, Ingles could find his career in free fall having to spend 12 months on the sidelines.

Play stopped as Ingles writhed in pain on the floor. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

Basketball pundits expressed their sympathies on social media.

Joe Ingles?! Noooooooooooooo

— Andy Bailey (@AndrewDBailey) January 31, 2022

There's fear the Jazz's Joe Ingles has suffered a significant left knee injury, but nothing will be confirmed until his MRI in Salt Lake City on Monday, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/LuwrDziyHc

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 31, 2022

Hoping for the best for Joe Ingles. Since entering the NBA in 2014-15, he has played 635 out of 650 games including regular season and postseason. He's been a true iron man for the Jazz and so loved in the community. Crossing everything it isn't as serious as it looks.

— Kane Pitman (@KanePitman) January 31, 2022