On Joe Ingles' first NBL stint and the shooting star that was the South Dragons
Joe Ingles has led one of the great Australian basketball careers and it all started in the NBL with the South Dragons.
Joe Ingles is back in the NBL.
The operative word in that sentence is BACK.
In 2006 an 18-year-old Ingles took the league by storm, announcing himself in a big way on the Aussie hoops scene.
He may have only spent three seasons in the NBL, but his impact was felt, especially in an era of the competition where audience wasn’t always easy to find.
THE TEAM
The South Dragons arrived to the NBL alongside fellow new franchise the Singapore Slingers, a club who had taken over the Hunter Pirates’ license.
The Dragons filled the second Melbourne team hole that had been left vacant since the Victoria Giants departed the league at the end of the 2003/04 season. They brought with them a new exciting brand that took inspiration from the Magic glory years.
Much had been made of just who their first signing would be. Luke Schenscher, who had just completed a fantastic college career at Georgia Tech, was a rumoured name, but eventually it was Joe Ingles who signed the dotted line first. It was a move that stunned some in his home state, with many thinking he would sign with the 36ers, but some missteps from the Adelaide franchise saw him take his talents to Victoria.
A flurry of signings followed, including Shane Heal, who would eventually go on to be player-coach after NBA legend Mark Price lasted just five games in the role. His departure was closely followed by the sacking of import Todd Fuller.
THE DEBUT
No Australian has scored more points than Joe Ingles on debut in the NBL.
He poured in 29 against the New Zealand Breakers, a team that featured the likes of Carlos Powell, Paul Henare, Brian Wethers, and of course, Mika Vukona.
Ingles went 11/15 from the field, buried four triples from five attempts, collected seven board and had multiple dunks. He was the Dragons leading scorer and played 40 of a possible 48 minutes.
The Dragons would go down 112-106, but it was the closest they got to a victory in the very short-lived Mark Price era. Despite the loss Ingles had announced his arrival in a big way and people were starting to take notice of this lanky kid from South Australia.
He finished his debut season averaging 15.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and three assists per game, collecting the Rookie of the Year award while shooting 46% from the field and 32% from deep.
THE DEVELOPMENT
Joe Ingles’ second season in the NBL saw him develop the parts of his game that helped take him to Europe, the NBA and five Olympics.
His assist numbers rose from three to 4.9 per game and his three-point shooting percentage went from 32% in his debut season to 38% despite taking more attempts.
Despite his individual success it was a brutal season for the South Dragons, who floundered to a 5-25 regular season record which triggered the departure of Shane Heal, with assistant coach Guy Molloy coaching the final five games of the season.
THE CHAMPIONSHIP
As soon as Brian Goorjian signed on to be coach of the South Dragons, things changed.
He bought Mark Worthington with him from Sydney, added even more grunt in the form of Mika Vukona and Adam Gibson, and recruited imports Tremmell Darden and Cortez Groves, the latter of which was eventually replaced by Donta Smith due to injury.
They joined Ingles and instantly clicked, finishing atop the regular season ladder with a 22-8 record.
Ingles wasn’t asked to do as much as he was in his first two season with the Dragons, but still carved out 13.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game while shooting just under 40% from deep.
He would also of course help them to their first grand final series and subsequently their first NBL championship. It was a memorable series against their crosstown rivals the Tigers and small glimpse at what the NBL could possibly, and eventually did, return to.
THE DEPARTURE
Sadly, for the South Dragons, we know how the story ended.
Less than two months after they hoisted the trophy, the Dragons withdrew from the league.
Joe Ingles didn’t hang around to find another club, he was swiftly off to Granada in Spain, beginning his storied European career which eventually led to the bright lights of the NBA. What made his move even easier was the fact that Ingles holds a British passport, which actually allowed him to sign as a European player.
Despite his growth, Ingles’ departure from the NBL was what was best for his career. However, it proved to be the perfect base to launch one of the greatest overseas careers a male Australian player has put together.