12
Dec
Aussies in the NBA
Jock Landale set to start after latest Edey injury
Jock Landale #31 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on November 30, 2025 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. Photo: Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images
Highlights
A career-year for Landale could get even better with more minutes on the horizon
- Landale outguns Reath in battle of Aussie bigs
- Growing Grizzly: Landale's career-year keeps building
- Jock Landale's double-digit streak comes to an end
More opportunity awaits Jock Landale with the Aussie big man set to return to the Memphis Grizzlies' starting line-up following another injury to first-choice centre Zach Edey.
ESPN reported Edey will miss at least four weeks with a stress reaction in the left ankle he had surgically repaired in the offseason, opening the door for Landale who started in the first 13 games of the season for the Grizzlies.
"This is a management plan to optimize Zach's long-term health in consultation with the Grizzlies and medical experts," his representative, Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports, told ESPN.
"Following this step, the short- and long-term prognosis for Zach is excellent."
Landale has been in career-best form since moving to Memphis from the Houston Rockets, averaging 10.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, while shooting 43% from the three-point line on almost 2.5 attempts per game.
His season includes tying his career-high of 26 points against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets on November 25 - which came after Edey also left the game early, only playing six minutes as Landale stepped up to the plate against one of the NBA"s championship contenders.
The 30-year-old's form has even sparked praise from NBA legends, such as Redeem Team member and former Milwaukee Bucks star Michael Redd, who said Landale could be a prime trade target for a playoff team needing a boost off the bench.
"This is a deep cut, but Jock Landale really is a decent bench big," Redd posted on X.
"I enjoy the way he plays. I haven't done the front office work -- salary, eligibility, etc. -- but would theoretically be a nice bench addition for a playoff team that needs a little punch for a few minutes."
The comments sparked basketball.com.au analysing which team could be a fit for the Boomers enforcer, if the Grizzlies were to look at trading him.
Surprisingly, despite his impressive form, Landale's numbers were slightly lower when starting compared to coming off the bench, only averaging 10.6 points per game in the first 13 appearances of the season with Edey out.
But one thing is for certain, Landale has shown he is ready to step up and the Grizzlies may even be a better team with him leading the way.
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