France’s Nicolas Batum tries to steal the ball from Italy’s Simone Fontecchio, proper, throughout a males’s basketball quarterfinal spherical recreation on the 2020 Summer season Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. Charlie Neibergall, AP
Simone Fontecchio is reportedly the newest addition to the Utah Jazz, and because it seems, he isn’t unfamiliar with the franchise because of Joe Ingles.
Ingles, a longtime ahead for the Jazz who's now a member of the Milwaukee Bucks, is one in every of Fontecchio’s basketball idols.
This all got here out through the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, following Australia’s 86-83 victory over Italy through the group stage of competitors (Fontecchio performed for Italy, Ingles for Australia).
Through the postgame press convention, Ingles fielded questions from reporters. One unnamed reporter, who a day earlier had realized from Fontecchio himself that he idolizes Ingles, requested Ingles about his ideas on Fontecchio.
As Ingles has been wont to do all through his skilled basketball profession, he had enjoyable along with his response.
“I’m who’s idol?” Ingles requested. “... He wants a greater idol. I’d by no means seen him play earlier than. Watching the scout (report) for the final recreation and clearly taking part in towards him tonight, we had been simply Googling the place he performed this yr. I’m shocked that he's not in one of many greatest groups in Europe.
“He’s a very good participant. Aggressive, particularly on the offense finish. Discovering his shot and clearly capturing a excessive share as properly. Possibly I’ll go give him my jersey or one thing. I’m very shocked.”
On Sunday, following reviews that Fontecchio is signing with the Jazz, Ingles took to Twitter to have some enjoyable with Fontecchio as soon as once more.
And guess who one in every of his favorite gamers is 👀🫣 https://t.co/CIZB2besES
— Joe Ingles (@Joeingles7) July 17, 2022