After nearly 10 months of rehabilitation on a torn left ACL, Milwaukee Bucks forward Joe Ingles is targeting his return against the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday, sources told ESPN on Friday.
Once Ingles successfully completes a final 5-on-5 workout Saturday, that'll be considered the last hurdle in his comeback and will clear the way for his Bucks debut Monday.
Ingles has been ramping up his return to play, including practices with the Bucks' G League affiliate.
Ingles, 35, signed a one-year, $6.5 million free agent deal with the Bucks in July and now brings his ability as a floor spacer and his years of proven playoff performances to Milwaukee's championship chase. Despite awaiting his debut with the Bucks, the team has already welcomed and embraced Ingles' personality and presence.
Ingles suffered the season-ending knee injury Jan. 30 while with Utah, and the Jazz used his expiring contract in a three-team deal that landed him in Portland for the rest of the season. Prior to the trade, Ingles spent his entire eight-year NBA career with the Jazz, averaging 8.6 points on 41% 3-point shooting in 590 games. In 45 playoff games -- including 40 as a starter -- Ingles averaged 9.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists.
He was part of Maccabi Tel-Aviv in the 2020 EuroLeague championship and an Olympic bronze medal winner with Australia in the 2020 Tokyo Games.