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SALT LAKE CITY — In early November, as Jazz forward Joe Ingles was dealing with a dislocated middle finger, he was asked how it felt.
“Have you ever jammed a finger?” he answered. “It feels like that.”
It didn’t feel good, not by any means, but it wasn’t going to make him miss games. In fact, over the last three-plus years, nothing has.
Ingles has played in 281 straight games dating back to Dec. 16, 2015. That’s now the longest current streak in the NBA after Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns’ 303-straight game streak ended last week.
“I think from the beginning, he wants to play,” Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. “There’s probably been games he could have not played for good reason, but he’s not in any danger, he’s just uncomfortable and he wants to be out there.”
Derrick Favors smiled wide and was on the verge of laughing after he was asked about Ingles’ streak. It might have been because of some of the underlying reasons for the consecutive games — such as Ingles’ general lack of explosiveness.
“That helps out — take care of those knees,” Favors said with a grin. “Not dunk every play, not running super fast.”
But the near laughter might have been provoked by Ingles being apathetic about the streak, too.
“He probably doesn’t even care, to tell you the truth,” Favors said. “He comes in and does his job every day. I’m pretty sure he doesn’t even care about that record.”
That was seen on Saturday after the Jazz's win over the Dallas Mavericks when Ingles simply said, "next question" when asked about it before eventually expounding a little.
“I do like to play basketball that’s why I’ve played for however long, but it’s not like I’m preparing each week to keep (the streak going),” Ingles said. “I don’t even know what it is, to be really honest with you.”
It’s that type of attitude that has allowed Ingles to become so beloved by Utah fans. He doesn’t care about personal accolades. He just wants to help his team win. If that involves popping a finger back into place or wrapping a bandage around his head midgame, he’s willing to do it.
“He doesn't want to be out there to break a record or have a streak,” Snyder said. “He wants to be there cause he likes to play.”
With the Jazz having to play around injuries to Favors, Rudy Gobert, Dante Exum, Ricky Rubio, Thabo Sefolosha — to include only some — since Ingles’ streak began, the Australian forward has provided a steadying hand at times for the Jazz.
Actually, he has done much more than that.
According to cleaningtheglass.com, the Jazz are 9.0 points better over 100 possessions with Ingles on the court this season. And helping the Jazz win is the only reason for Ingles to care about the streak.
“If it helps us get a win, helps us get to the Finals, get to the playoffs, whatever it is,” he said
Ingles’ teammates and head coach all mentioned how Ingles continually takes care of himself — how he gets the proper treatment before and after games, and how he works hard to make sure his body isn’t being overspent. But what has really stood out to them during the streak is Ingles' mental toughness and his desire to never want to sit out.
"More than anything, between the ears, he wants to be out there," Snyder said. "It’s important to him. If something is important to you, you figure out any way you can to do it.”
