Jock Landale

Jock Landale's Biography

Jock Landale, born 25 October 1995, is an accomplished Australian professional basketball player, currently a valuable member of the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). In a career that has seen him traverse different corners of the globe from Australia to Europe, and finally the United States, Landale has proven himself to be a force to reckon with on the court.

As a young boy growing up in Australia, Jock had an early interest in basketball. However, he decided to take a pause from the sport for some time during his formative years. Against all odds, Landale rediscovered his passion for the game while studying at Geelong Grammar School in Corio, Victoria. This renewed interest in basketball coincided with a tremendous growth spurt that saw him increase his height by almost a full foot from Year 9 to Year 12. This significant change in his physical stature improved his prospects as a basketball player and led to him securing a scholarship to Saint Mary’s College, an NCAA Division I school in America.

Even though Landale started his college basketball career as a bench player, he quickly improved his role as he advanced in his collegiate years. His considerable improvement came to a reckoning during his junior year, which was marked by a breakout season largely owed to his improved conditioning. His college career showcased many dominant performances, including a memorable game on 5 January 2017 that saw him score 26 points.

His high-level performances throughout his college career culminated in him leading the Saint Mary’s Gaels to the 2017 NCAA tournament, averaging 16.9 points and 9.5 rebounds in the process. In the same season, Landale received the honor of being named first-team All-West Coast Conference (WCC). His basketball prowess continued in his senior year, garnering a total of 21.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.1 blocked shots per game, culminating in the WCC Player of the Year award.

After going undrafted in the 2018 NBA draft, Landale continued his basketball journey overseas. He inked a two-year deal with Partizan of the ABA League, where he maintained an impressive average of 12 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. His international journey next took him to Lithuania, where he signed a 1+1 season deal with Žalgiris Kaunas, the reigning champions. In this journey, he also found himself playing for the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2019 Las Vegas Summer League.

Landale’s return to Australia was marked by a one-year deal with Melbourne United for the 2020–21 NBL season. Here, his indispensable contributions led the United setup to the 2021 NBL Grand Final against the Perth Wildcats. His performance saw him being decorated with the NBL Grand Final MVP Award after leading the United to a 3–0 sweep in the best-of-five series.

In August 2021, Landale signed a contract with the San Antonio Spurs, marking his induction into the NBA. He made his NBA career debut in a game against the Los Angeles Clippers in January 2022, notching 10 points and 11 rebounds. Unfortunately, Landale’s journey with the Spurs was short-lived as he was subsequently traded to the Atlanta Hawks and subsequently to the Phoenix Suns within a week.

Despite the many changes in his career, Jock Landale continues to demonstrate his resilience and talent. As of 2023, Landale’s latest move saw him signing with the Houston Rockets, where he’s anticipated to bring his talent, skills, and experience to the table. Beyond his club basketball career, Landale also has an admirable record in representing his nation. He was part of the Australian team that won bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.