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USA Today
3 hours 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'
IOL News
4 hours ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Former Kaizer Chiefs striker Bernard Parker reflects on successful first season in coaching
Kaizer Chiefs' Wandile Duba and TS Galaxy's Mlungisi Mbunjana fight for the ball during their Betway Premiership match. Image: Backpagepix Former Kaizer Chiefs forward Bernard Parker has expressed his satisfaction with TS Galaxy's overall performance during the 2024/25 season, which marked his debut campaign as an assistant coach at senior level and as head coach of the club's DStv Diski Challenge (DDC) team. As he transitions from a celebrated playing career into coaching, Parker says he's proud of the strides his teams have made, even amidst early difficulties. Speaking about the season, the 39-year-old admitted that adapting to professional coaching was initially challenging, despite having prior experience at lower levels. 'It was quite tough for me at first to put the team together because, although I had done coaching at a grassroots level, this was my first official season in professional coaching,' he explained. Parker holds a unique dual role with the Rockets, acting as a vital link between the club's DDC side and the senior team. A growing number of Premier Soccer League (PSL) clubs are turning to their development ranks to promote emerging talent from within their youth systems. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading TS Galaxy has aligned itself with this approach by outsourcing as they recently confirmed the acquisition of Kaizer Chiefs DDC captain Ntandoyenkosi Nkosi. He becomes the latest young prospect to make the switch from Amakhosi to the Rockets, following the path taken by Puso Dithejane and Khulimane Ndamane before him. Earlier in the campaign, Galaxy had found themselves in a difficult position following the departure of head coach Sead Ramovic after a string of unsatisfactory results. However, the club regained its footing under the joint leadership of Parker and Bosnian tactician Adnan Beganovic. The duo successfully steered the Rockets into a top-eight finish, narrowly missing out on CAF Confederations qualification. Reflecting on the season's beginning, Parker attributed the team's slow start to the loss of key players, which disrupted their rhythm and made it difficult to build momentum. 'It was a bit of a challenge to maintain balance after we lost some important players early in the season,' Parker said. 'We had to find replacements who could match the quality we had before, in order to carry forward from where we left off last season.'
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Fact or fiction: Do the Rockets have the best assets to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo?
ESPN insider Bobby Marks, formerly an NBA front office executive with the Brooklyn Nets, is seemingly bullish on the ability of the Houston Rockets to trade for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason. In a 'fact or fiction' segment published Wednesday, Marks was asked if Houston has the best set of assets to chase Antetokounmpo. Advertisement Marks replied, via ESPN: Fact. There are three things on the checklist of chasing a superstar. You have to have draft equity, which certainly Houston has, when you look at the No. 10 pick in the (2025) draft. Then you have all of your future assets, such as picks that are coming from Phoenix and Dallas. They check the box there. Then you have young players on rookie contracts. Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard, Tari Eason, Cam Whitmore, there is a list of those players. Then you have to have those sizable contracts. Remember, we work in a system where you basically have to get within 125% of the salary that's coming back, when it's that big. Dillon Brooks, Fred VanVleet. Them and San Antonio check those boxes, as far as having those appealing assets if you're going to go out and chase a superstar. And in contrast to the Spurs, who finished 34-48 and No. 13 among 15 Western Conference teams last season, the Rockets went 52-30 and finished at No. 2 overall. That could perhaps be the final piece of the puzzle, should Antetokounmpo want to leave Milwaukee and pursue a better opportunity to compete for an NBA championship. While the Bucks could still theoretically trade Antetokounmpo to a non-preferred destination, it rarely happens with NBA superstars — since it's usually not worth it to trade premium young assets for a player who doesn't want to be with the acquiring organization for the long-term. The next domino, of course, is seeing whether the 30-year-old Antetokounmpo actually asks Milwaukee for a trade after spending his first 12 NBA seasons with the franchise. ESPN reported earlier this week that he's at least considering other possibilities. Advertisement If he does, it seems likely that Houston will be among the leading suitors. Beyond Brooks and VanVleet, the Rockets also have Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun entering significantly larger contracts (which can be useful for trade purposes) in 2025-26. While Thompson is theoretically movable, as Marks noted, he's widely viewed as untouchable in trade talks. A 6-foot-11 power forward, Antetokounmpo averaged 30.4 points (60.1% FG), 11.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game in the 2024-25 season. A two-time Most Valuable Player (MVP), the 'Greek Freak' is a nine-time NBA All-Star and a perennial MVP candidate. More: Report: In 2025 offseason, Rockets open to pursuing Giannis Antetokounmpo trade with Bucks This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Fact or fiction: Do Rockets have the best assets to trade for Giannis?
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Chris Mannix: In trade pursuits, Ime Udoka ‘a real asset' for Rockets
Entering the 2025-26 season, the Houston Rockets have the foundation of a relatively young and improving team that finished 2024-25 with the NBA's fourth-best record (52-30, No. 2 in the Western Conference). That's led many to speculate that Houston could be very desirable to any star players who might come available on the offseason trade market. Advertisement But there's another potential reason for that desirability. On Friday's The Rich Eisen Show, NBA insider Chris Mannix (of Sports Illustrated) made the case: Every player in the league loves (head coach) Ime Udoka. Every player wants to play for Ime Udoka. That's a real asset that the Rockets have. Mannix went on to name Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics, and Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns as All-Star-level players who could be targets. Brown and Durant each have previous experience playing for Udoka, with Durant's stint coming when Udoka was an assistant with the Brooklyn Nets. 'The team that I'm still watching the closest is going to be Houston,' Mannix said of his offseason outlook. 'Can Houston make a play for Giannis? I'm sure they would love to.' More: Fact or fiction: Do the Rockets have the best assets to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo? This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Chris Mannix: In trade pursuits, Ime Udoka 'a real asset' for Rockets
USA Today
18 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Chris Mannix: In trade pursuits, Ime Udoka ‘a real asset' for Rockets
Chris Mannix: In trade pursuits, Ime Udoka 'a real asset' for Rockets Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix on the NBA's 2025 offseason trade market: 'Every player wants to play for Ime Udoka. That's a real asset that the Rockets have.' Entering the 2025-26 season, the Houston Rockets have the foundation of a relatively young and improving team that finished 2024-25 with the NBA's fourth-best record (52-30, No. 2 in the Western Conference). That's led many to speculate that Houston could be very desirable to any star players who might come available on the offseason trade market. But there's another potential reason for that desirability. On Friday's The Rich Eisen Show, NBA insider Chris Mannix (of Sports Illustrated) made the case: Every player in the league loves (head coach) Ime Udoka. Every player wants to play for Ime Udoka. That's a real asset that the Rockets have. Mannix went on to name Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics, and Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns as All-Star-level players who could be targets. Brown and Durant each have previous experience playing for Udoka, with Durant's stint coming when Udoka was an assistant with the Brooklyn Nets. Udoka was a finalist for the NBA's 2024-25 Coach of the Year award. 'The team that I'm still watching the closest is going to be Houston,' Mannix said of his offseason outlook. 'Can Houston make a play for Giannis? I'm sure they would love to.' More: Fact or fiction: Do the Rockets have the best assets to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo?
