It was a slowwwwww start to Joe Ingles’ Milwaukee Bucks career. One that had Ingles, his teammates and the coaching staff practicing and preaching patience. But everyone knew that heading into the partnership.

The Bucks entered the 2022 offseason way over the NBA’s Salary Cap and Luxury Tax Apron, severely limiting the tools they had available to bring in new talent. The only way they could add to their constantly growing financial situation beside veteran minimum deals was to use the Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception. And that’s exactly what they did to bring in Ingles.

Ingles had a rough 2021-22 season. He was playing some of the worst basketball of his career; averaging a career-low in three-point percentage and scoring the fewest points and dishing the fewest assists since his 2016-17 season.

To make matters worse, he tore his ACL in February of 2022 and underwent surgery in the same month. That was a worrisome development for a 35-year-old forward who already lacked the speed, quickness and jumping ability the rest of his peers possessed. What if the injury sapped what little athleticism he had?

Furthermore, any team that signed him would have to wait nervously to see how the last part of his recovery went. He was sure to miss October and November, but would he really be able to return in December? Or would a January, February or March return be more likely? Who could say at that point.

Ingles made a fairly quick recovery and made his Bucks’ debut on December 19th, only missing the team’s first 29 games. That’s remarkable considering he was only out 10 months.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t all rainbows and unicorns for Ingles and the Bucks.

In his first five games, he averaged a measly 3.8 points per game while shooting just 19 percent from the three-point line. He feel for the game was also lacking; he coughed up more turnovers than assists dished, and looked like someone who hadn’t played in an NBA game in nearly a year.

Milwaukee also lost four of those five games. Their offense struggled to knock down shots and create quality looks. Their defense took a step back. It was ugly on multiple fronts.

The Bucks are still trying to figure things out on the offensive end, but it’s safe to say Ingles has found his groove.

He’s putting up 8.6 points, 5.6 assists and 2 rebounds per game while shooting 40 percent from behind the arc over his last five games. That’s the Joe Ingles the NBA has come to know.

His feel for the game and ability to exploit the defense is masterful. He has a bevy of shot and ball fakes, looks and one-handed swing passes that keep defenders off balance. He’s directing players into position based on his reads and is setting his teammates up for easy success. His positioning with passes is jaw-dropping.

Monday night’s performance against the New York Knicks was his best. With Milwaukee trailing by as many as 17 points in the second-half, they needed a spark from someone not named Giannis Antetokounmpo. And Ingles rose to the occasion.

Not only did he knock down open threes—he was five-for-11 in the game—but he manipulated the defense to locate his open teammates.

Milwaukee desperately needed a bucket, as they were trailing by two points with fewer than four minutes remaining. Grayson Allen and Jrue Holiday occupied the weak-side of the floor, as Brook Lopez came to set a ball screen for Antetokounmpo. He ignored it however, and went directly to the right corner for a dribble handoff with Ingles. As Ingles received it, Lopez cleared to the left side, bringing his massive defender with him, and opening up the entire right side of the court for an Antetokounmpo roll and subsequent alley-oop dunk.

Ingles’ ability to read defenses and feel for touch passes is unmatched on this Bucks’ roster. Milwaukee must insert more of these actions with Ingles and Antetokounmpo into their normal offense. They are too few and far between for an offense that is struggling to put points on the board.

At this stage in his career, Ingles shouldn’t be counted on to create a ton of offense. He should, however, be a perfect tertiary option behind Antetokounmpo, Holiday and Khris Middleton (when he returns). He brings a different kind of cadence and playmaking.

Milwaukee ranks 25th in offensive rating. That’s not going to get the job done if they want to win another championship.

Ingles won’t be the cure-all for their offensive woes, but his further integration into the offense can be an ingredient in the medicine.