Joe Ingles says he's happy to be able to "look after the young fella" Dante Exum on the Utah Jazz.
Just two days after being cut by the Los Angeles Clippers, the Jazz swooped in and resurrected Ingles' NBA career on Monday.
In a twist of fate for Australian basketball, the Jazz cut another Boomer squad member, Brock Motum, on the weekend.
"The last few days have been pretty crazy not knowing and then getting the call yesterday afternoon from these guys," Ingles told reporters on Tuesday.
"We jumped on a plane and came straight over."
Ingles was in Los Angeles with his fiancee, Australian netballer Renae Hallinan, when he was notified the Jazz would be his new employer.
The Jazz's move reunites Ingles with 19-year-old Exum, who the Jazz selected with the fifth pick of the NBA Draft earlier this year.
Ingles has played a big brother role for Exum, rooming with the teenager at the recent World Cup in Spain and at other Boomer camps.
"I'm very happy to be here and to look after the young fella Dante," Ingles said.
As a child growing up in Melbourne, Exum was a big fan of Ingles when he was playing in the NBL for the South Dragons, buying his singlet and getting Ingles' autograph.
"We have a great relationship," Ingles said.
"We're obviously roommates with the national team and we might even room together here."
While the 203cm Ingles, 27, can help rookie Exum with life as a professional basketball player, Ingles said the teenager can help teach him with the Jazz's system.
Ingles did not get much of an opportunity at the Clippers during the pre-season, but Utah coach Quin Snyder said Ingles and another late recruit, former Toronto Raptor forward Jordan Hamilton, will have a chance to break into the Jazz rotation.
"I think they're both going to be given the chance to contribute," Snyder said.
"They're different players.
"They both have good size, and we like the fact that they're in the program."
With Andrew Bogut playing his college basketball in Utah and Motum and Exum at the Jazz, Ingles joked about the Australian invasion of the state.
"Australians are kind of taking over," Ingles said.
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