“Headband Joe” Ingles helps Utah Jazz beat Memphis

MEMPHIS — Jazz man Joe Ingles became a bit of a viral sensation Monday night when he played the remainder of the game wearing a huge white gauze headband over a head injury.

With about 3 and a half minutes to go, Ingles got whacked above his left eye, and the blood dripped down to his jersey. It took two timeouts to stop the bleeding, then he came back in with a bandaged head.

Medical tape notwithstanding, Ingles dished out an assist to Rudy Gobert and sunk a 3-point shot to solidify the Jazz lead.

After the shot went in, Ingles pointed to his headband.

Only gif you’ll need for the rest of your life ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/XhTArW2vXj

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) November 13, 2018

And the Internet loved it. Joe’s wife Renae Ingles and even Senator Orrin Hatch’s office got into the fun on Twitter.

The twins are going to want headbands tomorrow! 🤣 RT @utahjazz: It’s beautiful 😭 pic.twitter.com/I9liUERmmF

— Renae Ingles (@RenaeIngles) November 13, 2018

Haven’t seen a bandage like that since the end of the Appomattox campaign— a great day for the North and General Grant. https://t.co/Dh5JfDNssk

— Senator Hatch Office (@senorrinhatch) November 13, 2018

The Jazz official account changed their Twitter profile picture to one wrapped in medical tape.

Ingles received four stitches for the wound. Afterward, Ingles was asked in the locker room about becoming a viral sensation, and he deadpanned, “It’s what I’ve been striving for my whole life.”

His teammates praised his grit.

“I don’t know I’d be ready to play with that,” Gobert said. “But it shows that competitiveness.”

“He’s a tough guy,” Derrick Favors said. “He’s always ready to play.”

“He’s a trooper,” said Donovan Mitchell. “He’s a fighter, he fights through anything and doesn’t miss a game.”

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