Aussies in NBA: Alex Ducas drops first profession factors as Joe Ingles finds specialist function | USAEMALL.com

Geraldton’s Alex Ducas scored his first NBA points on Monday with the West Aussie making a three-pointer during Oklahoma City Thunder’s thumping win over Washington Wizards.

Ducas has had to be patient in his first NBA season with a back injury sidelining him for nearly two months. But he didn’t waste his chance during his second game back, scoring a corner three as the Thunder thrashed Washington 136-95.

His teammates were so excited to see Ducas getting on the scoreboard that they erupted on the bench. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander accidentally stepped onto the floor in excitement, costing the team a tech foul.

While the youngster relished his big moment, Joe Ingles was celebrated for something much smaller.

Ingles has been a lot of things to Australian basketball – Olympic bronze medallist, NBA trailblazer and a three-point sniper.

But the joy he’s brought fans from being a key part of teams for career took an extraordinary twist last week when he added in-bound specialist to his resume.

At 37-years-old, Ingles’ NBA career is winding down. He barely plays these days. In fact, he’s taken only two shots for the season and missed both.

But Ingles knows what’s required to win and that’s why Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch turns to him for one specific thing – getting the ball in play when it matters.

Ingles has now played for a grand total of just over three seconds across his last two matches. But in one he got the ball inbounds to Julius Randle when scores were level in the dying seconds against Phoenix in November and he nailed the three-pointer to win the game.

Remembering the job he did that day, Finch called on Ingles to inbound when the game was tight last week and he successfully got the ball to Anthony Edwards which forced the LA Clippers to foul. Then Ingles went back to the bench.

In-bound specialist. Savvy veteran. The home fans loved it. There’s a time to be a star and there’s a time to be a great teammate and Ingles is showing why it’s so important to be both.