Latest news with #Landale
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Despite losing minutes, Jock Landale understands why Rockets prioritized Steven Adams
Despite losing minutes, Jock Landale understands why Rockets prioritized Steven Adams Jock Landale on losing minutes to Steven Adams: 'It was good for the team. You've got to tuck your tail between your legs every now and again, and I'm happy to do so.' After signing with the Rockets in the 2023 NBA offseason, Jock Landale finished the 2023-24 season as Houston's primary backup at center and posted quality metrics in the process. But in 2024-25, the 29-year-old Australian was largely the third-string center behind incumbent starter Alperen Sengun and veteran backup Steven Adams. It was a bitter pill to swallow for Landale, especially when Adams struggled at times in the regular season amid his return from knee surgery. But when Adams improved late in the season and became arguably Houston's most impactful player in the 2025 playoffs, the preferential treatment made sense. In an episode of the Tommy Talks podcast on the Ausmerican Aces YouTube channel, Landale explained his thought process: So much of the (regular) season is allowing guys to grow back into their roles. Unless you're in that top four or five (players), it's very interchangeable, because all the players on your roster are usually elite. There's so much politics involved and so much analytics these days, and they try things. The whole process is just to figure out what's going to be the best during the playoffs. With Steve coming back from a major injury this year, the general consensus among the team was let's give him time to get himself right, and see if we can get him back to being who Steven Adams is. To his credit, he put in a lot of work. This guy is wild with how much he works. Then you see that come together in the playoffs and him playing as well as he did. In my case, I like to think I'm a humble guy, being an Australian. I'll give credit where credit's due. There were times through the year where it was hard and frustrating, and I thought perhaps I was the better option, at times. But when you really sit back and you look at the playoffs, you're like 'Alright, it made sense.' It was good for the boys, good for the team. You've got to tuck your tail between your legs every now and again, and I'm happy to do so. Depending on what happens with Adams in unrestricted free agency this offseason, it's possible that Landale could have a larger role in 2025-26. The Rockets have two more non-guaranteed years (at $8 million annually) on Landale's contract, which will become guaranteed if he is not waived by June 29. In two seasons (98 games) with the Rockets, Landale has averaged 4.8 points (52.2% FG) and 3.2 rebounds in 12.9 minutes per game. The 6-foot-11 big man remains an effective backup with reliable defense and a physical presence, when given the opportunity to play. 'I've built myself into where I feel as though I'm good enough to be a backup center in the NBA, and I know that I am,' Landale said. 'But it was just the reality of our team. The third string was a tough pill to swallow, but I had to. It took me a little while, but around November or December, I was like, 'I get it.' Then you just accept it, and life becomes a hell of a lot easier. We'e in very privileged positions just existing inside of the NBA, and once you realize that that's how good life is, this huge weight comes off your shoulders.' 'That's not to say that I don't have bad days, and I don't go in there pissed off about the fact that I'm not playing,' Landale added. 'I'm human. But if I can sit down with the (coaching) staff before the season and they explain what the role looks like, then it's on me to just accept that. The message was pretty loud and clear.' More: Jock Landale on rising Rockets star Amen Thompson: 'Future of the program'
USA Today
28-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Jock Landale on rising Rockets star Amen Thompson: ‘Future of the program'
Jock Landale on rising Rockets star Amen Thompson: 'Future of the program' 'He has all the makings to be a superstar in this league for a very long time,' Jock Landale says of his 22-year-old Rockets teammate Amen Thompson. In a recent podcast appearance, veteran center Jock Landale shared kind words for Dillon Brooks, his teammate with the 2023-24 and 2024-25 Houston Rockets. 'He had a career year this year that nobody talks about, because we had so much other stuff going on, positively,' Landale said on the Ausmerican Aces NBA Show. Among that 'other stuff' was Houston's elite defense, which ranked among the NBA's top five all season. That helped launch the Rockets from a 41-41 finish in 2023-24 (No. 11 in the Western Conference) to a 52-30 record in 2024-25 (No. 2 in the West). Brooks had a role in that defensive success, but the most important piece was second-year guard/forward Amen Thompson, who was recently named to the NBA's All-Defensive First Team. Regarding Thompson, Landale said on the same podcast: Amen Thompson is one of a kind, mate. That dude is a freak of nature, and you guys haven't seen anything yet. I never give him praise to his face, cause we've got that kind of a relationship, but behind his back… I'm like, 'This dude is unbelievable. He just moves at a pace and does things you just can't teach. And on top of that, he's just a sponge, he soaks everything up. He's a complete gym rat. You've seen the Tyler Herro thing, we've seen that multiple times through the years, and in practice. He has like this light switch. He walks on the court, and it's like, bang. He's a psycho. He has all the makings to be a superstar in this league for a very long time. In an extended conversation on the same YouTube channel (via a Tommy Talks episode), Landale elaborated on what he sees in Thompson: In 37 games since taking over a full-time starting position in January, Thompson averaged 15.9 points (55.7% FG), 9.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.5 blocks in 36.1 minutes per game. He technically replaced Smith at power forward, though Thompson had the defensive versatility to guard virtually any position, including the majority of possessions versus superstar Warriors guard Steph Curry in the playoffs (when Houston lost a hard-fought, seven-game series to Golden State). As for Landale, the Australian big man has two years remaining on his contract with the Rockets at $8 million annually, though both are non-guaranteed. His 2025-26 deal will become guaranteed if he is not waived by June 29. Beyond providing quality depth, the 29-year-old is also very well regarded as a teammate in Houston's locker room, as shown via these types of conversations. Landale was replaced by Steven Adams as Houston's primary backup at center in the 2024-25 season. However, with Adams as an unrestricted free agent in the 2025 offseason, it's at least plausible that Landale could regain that role in 2025-26 behind incumbent starter Alperen Sengun. More: Jock Landale on Dillon Brooks' impact in Houston: 'One of the best teammates I've ever had'
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Jock Landale on rising Rockets star Amen Thompson: ‘Future of the program'
In a recent podcast appearance, veteran center Jock Landale shared kind words for Dillon Brooks, his teammate with the 2023-24 and 2024-25 Houston Rockets. 'He had a career year this year that nobody talks about, because we had so much other stuff going on, positively,' Landale said on the Ausmerican Aces NBA Show. Advertisement Among that 'other stuff' was Houston's elite defense, which ranked among the NBA's top five all season. That helped launch the Rockets from a 41-41 finish in 2023-24 (No. 11 in the Western Conference) to a 52-30 record in 2024-25 (No. 2 in the West). Brooks had a role in that defensive success, but the most important piece was second-year guard/forward Amen Thompson, who was recently named to the NBA's All-Defensive First Team. Regarding Thompson, Landale said on the same podcast: Amen Thompson is one of a kind, mate. That dude is a freak of nature, and you guys haven't seen anything yet. I never give him praise to his face, cause we've got that kind of a relationship, but behind his back… I'm like, 'This dude is unbelievable. He just moves at a pace and does things you just can't teach. And on top of that, he's just a sponge, he soaks everything up. He's a complete gym rat. You've seen the Tyler Herro thing, we've seen that multiple times through the years, and in practice. He has like this light switch. He walks on the court, and it's like, bang. He's a psycho. He has all the makings to be a superstar in this league for a very long time. In an extended conversation on the same YouTube channel (via a Tommy Talks episode), Landale elaborated on what he sees in Thompson: In 37 games since taking over a full-time starting position in January, Thompson averaged 15.9 points (55.7% FG), 9.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.5 blocks in 36.1 minutes per game. He technically replaced Smith at power forward, though Thompson had the defensive versatility to guard virtually any position, including the majority of possessions versus superstar Warriors guard Steph Curry in the playoffs (when Houston lost a hard-fought, seven-game series to Golden State). As for Landale, the Australian big man has two years remaining on his contract with the Rockets at $8 million annually, though both are non-guaranteed. His 2025-26 deal will become guaranteed if he is not waived by June 29. Advertisement Beyond providing quality depth, the 29-year-old is also very well regarded as a teammate in Houston's locker room, as shown via these types of conversations. Landale was replaced by Steven Adams as Houston's primary backup at center in the 2024-25 season. However, with Adams as an unrestricted free agent in the 2025 offseason, it's at least plausible that Landale could regain that role in 2025-26 behind incumbent starter Alperen Sengun. More: Jock Landale on Dillon Brooks' impact in Houston: 'One of the best teammates I've ever had' This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Jock Landale on Rockets star Amen Thompson: 'Future of the program'
