Joe Ingles is having input into Melbourne United's search for a new NBL coach, but the Australian basketball legend insists the final call is not his to make.
After 12 seasons and more than 800 games in the NBA, 38-year-old Ingles is back in his home town after a joke with club boss Nick Truelson turned into the real deal.
Ingles said his return was motivated by a desire to play and compete more after spending most of his two-year stint with Minnesota on the bench.
"I had joked with Nick about a year ago when they were signing Jesse Edwards, who I played with ... and I think the last text I sent him was like, 'If you need a three-man next year, let me know'," Ingles said on Monday.
"Obviously the last couple of years for me not playing was, not tough because I'm in a pretty good situation, but as a competitor you want to play and help your team win.
"Later in the season it kind of got floated about ... the more we talked about it, it was exciting for me basketball-wise, and just raising our kids back in Australia was always a goal. I didn't think it would be this soon."
Since Ingles signed, long-term coach Dean Vickerman has taken up a job in Japan, with the club still hunting his replacement.
Former NBA coach Dave Joerger, who has a long relationship with Ingles, was their primary target before the American turned his attention to a position in France.
Ingles said he was being consulted but wasn't the driver on the new coach appointment.
"Yeah, I've been spoken to about it. I don't ask to be in those conversations, but if they come to me I'm more than happy to help," the five-time Olympian said.
"I've been lucky enough over my career to make some really good relationships and know a lot of people that know a lot of people, so if they ask questions, I can do some background and give Nick some answers.
"Apart from that I don't want this to be a Joe Ingles show of like 'I picked the coach and I picked the imports' - it's not what I'm here to do, so more than happy to help, but I'm not going to tell them what to do."
The 203cm forward, renowned for his three-point shooting, said he hadn't been given any guarantees about starting or playing time but felt he still had "plenty in the tank".
"I want to play, I want to compete and I want to win," Ingles said, adding that he had options to remain in the NBA collecting a big pay-cheque from the pine.
"I went into every meeting (with United) and never asked anything money-wise, never asked or demanded to start, never asked anything about playing time, it was all about getting here and ... I'll prove that they need to play me."