By Stefan Djordjevic/ sdjordjevic@eurohoops.net
Joe Ingles’ streak of consecutive regular-season games stopped at 384 as he missed the duel against Milwaukee due to right Achilles soreness.
If the postseason is included, Ingles’ streak increases to 418 straight. He hasn’t missed a game since December 16, 2015.
The 33-year-old Australian held the longest active streak which now belongs to the Kings‘ Cory Joseph who’s at 274 straight games.
“I don’t know what the big deal is, honestly. I played because I want to and I’m healthy. … If I’m healthy, I’m playing. If the professionals tell me not to, I’m out. Been lucky it lasted,” Ingles said, per ESPN.
His teammate Donovan Mitchell certainly noticed the change: “It was weird. There were a lot of things I didn’t realize that Joe does until he’s not there. It’s not even just the game. We’ve got pregame warmups, we’ve got a little handshake. We’ve got intros, we’ve got a handshake. Him yelling certain things in the locker room with 20 minutes on the clock … and then, there’s just little things that you miss and then you get on the court and then his presence handling the ball, defending on the perimeter, talking. But, I think, we have a tendency as a team, when guys are out, especially a guy like Joe, it’s next-man-up mentality and everybody was locked in and ready to go.”
Coach Quin Snyder expressed how much he respects and values Ingles: “I know he’d be playing if he could. There’s been a lot of times that he’s played through pain and probably an injury that he hasn’t told us about at times. But, obviously, you miss a player in the short run like Joe, but he’ll be back,” he said and added.
“It makes you pause for a second and you reflect on what a streak of consecutive games like that means and what it says about Joe, his toughness, his commitment, what type of teammate he is. You pause and reflect for a second and you understand why you respect him like you do.”
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