Aussies in the NBA: Jock Landale

• First Australian to win NBL Grand Final MVP and sign with an NBA team in the same year
• Bronze medallist with the Australian Boomers at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
• Versatile big man who has played professionally in Serbia, Lithuania, Australia, and the NBA
• Quick Guide to every Australian men's basketball player in the NBA

Jock Landale is a star of Australian basketball, who has made his mark on both domestic and international competitions before breaking into the NBA.

Landale, 29, had two years remaining on his Rockets contract: 2025-26 worth $8M; and $8M team option in 2026-27 but was waived before signing with the Memphis Grizzlies.

Key details

• Name: Jock Landale
• Age: 29
• Team(s): Memphis Grizzlies; Houston Rockets; Phoenix Suns; San Antonio Spurs; Melbourne United; Zalgiris Kaunas; and Partizan Belgrade
• Position: Centre
• Height: 6 ft 11 in (2.11m)
• Weight: 255 lb (116 kg)

Playing Style

Landale is a modern, versatile centre who shines in the pick-and-roll and can stretch the floor with his three-point shooting. His mobility for his 6’11” height allows him to defend on the perimeter when needed and can switch at a high level. On top of this he still provides a strong presence inside the paint, while also being able to find teammates with his high IQ and passing ability.

Career

Landale’s journey to the NBA wasn’t a stroll in the park. After starring at Saint Mary’s College for four years where he was named West Coast Conference Player of the Year in 2018, Landale went undrafted in the 2018 Draft.

He started his professional career in Europe, playing for Serbian powerhouse Partizan Belgrade. In his first and only season with the black-whites he quickly adapted to the professional game, averaging 12 points and 5.6 rebounds in the Adriatic (Serbian) League. He was named that season to the All-ABA League Team and won the Serbian Cup.

Landale would go onto be named in the Australian Boomers team for the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China. He helped the Boomers to a fourth-place finish, averaging 6.3 points and 3.4 rebounds.

After the World Cup, Landale would go onto play for Zalgiris Kaunas in Lithuania. This would mark his first season in the EuroLeague. The Aussie big man averaged 11 points and 4.4 rebounds per game against high-level competition.

The Victoria native would return home for the 2020-21 NBL season, signing with Melbourne United. He would have a dominant season playing under Dean Vickerman, being named to the All-NBL First Team before claiming a championship and Finals MVP.

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics would mark Landale’s first taste of national team glory, winning a bronze medal while playing a pivotal role as the team’s starting centre. He averaged 12.8 points and 4.7 rebounds a night.

He would finally get his first opportunity in the NBA through the San Antonio Spurs after the Olympics. While his playing time was limited in his rookie season, he did have some impressive nights, which included recording his first NBA double-double against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Landale was traded to the Phoenix Suns in the off-season, who were coming off a finals appearance the season prior. Playing for a contender further developed his game, which resulted in taking a majority of the centre minutes for the Suns come playoff time.

He would unfortunately miss the 2023 World Cup due to injury, before moving teams again and joining the Houston Rockets on a 4-year, $32 million contract. He would find himself in and out of the rotation, averaging 4.9 points and 3.1 rebounds in the 2023/24 season.

Landale started for the Boomers at the Paris Olympics, guiding them to a knockout stage berth before falling agonisingly close to Serbia in the quarter finals. He had an international tournament best of 14.5 points and 8.8 rebounds a game.

After another season with the Rockets in 2024-25, Landale would be waived by Houston in the off-season and went on to join the Memphis Grizzlies on a one-year deal.

Five Fast Facts

1. Landale didn’t start playing basketball seriously until high school, when a growth spurt sparked his interest in the sport.
2. He played college basketball at Saint Mary’s. The same school that produced fellow Australian NBA players Patty Mills and Matthew Dellavedova.
3. Landale was the first player to win NBL Grand Final MVP and sign with an NBA team in the same season.
4. He donated $100 for every three-pointer he made in a EuroLeague game to help fight the 2020 Australian bushfires.
5. Landale was a key member of the Australian national team that won bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the Boomers’ first ever Olympic medal.

Career Highlights Timeline

• 2014: Begins college career at Saint Mary’s
• 2018: Named West Coast Conference Player of the Years
• 2018: Signs first professional contract with Partizan Belgrade
• 2019: Named to All-ABA League Team
• 2019: Plays for Australian Boomers at FIBA World Cup
• 2019: Signs with Zalgiris Kaunas, plays first season in Euro-League
• 2020: Returns to Australia, signs with Melbourne United
• 2021: Wins NBL Championship and Grand Final MVP with Melbourne United
• 2021: Wins Bronze Medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
• 2021: Signs first NBA contract with the San Antonio Spurs
• 2022: Traded to the Phoenix Suns
• 2023: Signs with the Houston Rockets
• 2024: Plays for the Boomers at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris
• 2025: Waived by Houston, signs with Memphis Grizzlies