‘Speechless’: Tears flow as Aussie family goes viral in America

A gesture of pure class has made Aussie NBA star Joe Ingles and his family the most heart-melting story of the season.

Joe Ingles and his family have left people in tears across America after an incredibly classy, special moment in his team’s NBA game on Saturday (AEDT).

The Minnesota Timberwolves forward started his first game in over three years and there was a special reason why.

Minnesota head coach Chris Finch opted to put the Australian cult hero in the starting lineup to ensure he got into a game with his autistic son, Jacob, in attendance.

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Ingles, 37, was held scoreless in six minutes in a win over New Orleans, but that hardly mattered to Ingles and his family.

Ingles had his wife, Renae, and their three children at the game after they spent the entire season in Orlando, where he played last year, The New York Post reports.

Jacob attended a Timberwolves game earlier in the week, but Ingles didn’t get on the court.

It was the first time Jacob, who deals with sensory overload, had sat through an entire game of basketball.

Finch on Saturday made sure that Jacob would this time get to see his dad in the game.

What happened next has got plenty of viewers choking up.

Rennae Ingles' post has been flooded with messages. Photo: Instagram, Rennae Ingles.

Renae, a netball world champion and Commonwealth Games gold medallist with the Diamonds, thanked Finch and the Timberwolves in a social media post.

“This moment is one our family will cherish forever,” she wrote on Instagram.

“Words can’t fully express our gratitude for such kindness. Those minutes on the court meant so much more than just a basketball game.

“I’m incredibly proud of Jacob for all his hard work that brought him to the stands, but my heart swells with pride for Joe.

“It’s a testament to his character, and to the amazing people in this organisation who recognise him and would do something like this for him. Just wow. Thank-you, Timberwolves!”

Joe Ingles of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images.

She was even more emotional and on the verge of tears as she posted videos on her Instagram stories after the match.

She said the gesture left her “speechless with gratitude”.

“Tonight was truly bigger than basketball for us and our family,” she said on her Instagram stories.

“For Chris, the team and the whole organisation to support Joe and our family the way they did tonight, particularly Jacob, is truly incredible.

“This is a night that we will, as a family, remember forever. There have been many tears today.

“I am so proud of the person and teammate that Joe is, because the fact the team would do something like this for him is truly a reflection of that.”

Joe Ingles hugs his son. Photo X @SpencerRea3.

Joe Ingles got his first start in almost four years. Photo: X, NBA.

Renae said last week she couldn’t help tearing up with pride at seeing Jacob manage the challenge of watching a full game.

Rennae and the kids were shown on the big screen inside the stadium and were also shown on the TV broadcast.

Finch’s classy gesture and the images of the adorable Aussie family are going viral.

“Sometimes you’ve got to do the human thing,” Finch said.

“We always talk about, ‘All these minutes matter,’ and those minutes mattered for another reason.”

Ingles is in his 11th season in the NBA, eight of which were spent with Utah.

“Someone put it in my head today as an idea to make sure Joe can see the floor and I figured if we’re going to do it, let’s do it in style,” Finch said.

“Guys were behind it and I think it gave us just the right boost that we needed and change of energy. Not often that you get to do those types of things, but we’re really happy that we could.”

The first time the family attended an entire NBA game. Photo: Instagram.

Ingles, who has played in 19 games this season, took the opportunity to raise awareness about autism.

“This s**t is real,” Ingles said of his son’s condition.

“It doesn’t matter who you are or your lifestyle, your money, whatever. Jacob doesn’t really care I play basketball… He wants his dad home and every time I say I’m going to play basketball, he’s like ‘Ughhh.’ Which I’m sure a lot of kids — it’s not just me obviously.”

And Ingles wants people to understand the challenges families impacted by autism face.

“We’ll keep doing what we do,” Ingles said.

“We’ll keep pushing the awareness and doing what we can to help other families, but I think people just need to understand this is a real thing. It doesn’t go away with money. It doesn’t go away with the situation that you’re in. All we can do is talk about and obviously for us, give Jacob the best chance to fit in this kind of crazy world that we’re in.”

People across America were emotional.

NBA sideline reporter Brooke Olzendam commented on Ingles’ Instagram post: “The most amazing game to watch, total respect for your family and Joe”.

“US women’s national soccer team star Lauren Holiday wrote: “Has me all choked up. Love y’all”.

American lifestyle influencer and blogger Mary LeVere Conley posted: “I get chills reading this”.

This article originally appeared on the New York Post and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as ‘Speechless’: Tears flow as Aussie family goes viral in America