Thriving in Memphis: Jock Landale is quietly putting together a breakout season
After four seasons in the NBA as a role player, Jock Landale's move to Memphis in 2024-25 has sparked an explosion in playing opportunities.
Since his NBA debut in 2021, Jock Landale has never looked out of place among the world’s best basketball players.
The big man has never averaged more than 14 minutes across a full season, but those who followed his Boomers and pre-NBA career would have felt he had more to offer. After backing up Alperen Şengün for two years in Houston, Landale sought a move to Western Conference rival Memphis, presumably in a bid to boost his playing time. That gamble certainly paid off in a big way, as the Aussie has already racked up over 20 starts for his new team, while averaging over 20 minutes per game. With increased opportunity, career-best numbers have followed, and Landale has become an integral member of the Grizzlies’ rotation.
The 6’10 Landale exhibits many traits seen in both old school and modern era big men. He does his best work inside the paint, with a third of field goal attempts occurring at the rim, while also managing a 57.5% clip from 3-10 feet. Landale is a hulking figure in the post and has the strength to back down smaller defenders, but he also has the finesse to launch a nifty hook shot with either hand. Occasionally he capitalises on offensive rebounds for a putback, and surprises nobody when he elevates for a dunk. Landale isn’t an explosive driver and doesn’t put the ball on the floor very often, but he knows how to function off the ball, especially close to the basket.
On the other hand, Landale has also become a long range sniper, sinking 39.8% of his looks from downtown this season - on a respectable sample size of 2.9 attempts per game. And while he may not be a prolific rim protector, Landale has certainly been impactful on the glass, averaging 3.1 offensive rebounds per game and 6.5 total rebounds. With such a high proportion of offensive boards relative to total boards, it’s evident that Landale isn’t padding his stats with easy defensive rebounds. Rather, he is hustling to give his team second chance points.
Landale’s growth as a shooter is probably the most noteworthy shift in his overall game over the past year. While the 30 year did produce a 42.3% clip from beyond the arc in 2024-25, this was on a much smaller sample size of 0.6 attempts per game. Landale’s outside shot certainly isn’t anything new, as he once qualified for the Lithuanian league’s three-point contest - in 2020 - but this is the first time his jumper has translated to the NBA’s three-point line. 98% of Landale’s three pointers have been assisted, which isn’t surprising given that he is a 6’10 big man, not a point guard firing off the dribble.
Few players can sustain this level of three-point marksmanship without possessing a lethal touch from the foul line, and Landale has room for improvement in the latter. A sample size of 2.1 attempts per game may call for greater data, but nonetheless his 67.1% clip from the charity stripe is far from spectacular. Free throw percentages are often a surrogate marker of long range shooting potential, and Landale will be looking to lift his free throw clip to at least around 80%, if he hopes to become a high volume shooter.
This season, we’ve even seen rare flashes of Landale’s mid range shot. He is currently shooting 13/30 (close to 43%) between ten feet and the three-point line, which isn’t exactly a gaudy sample size over 41 appearances, but it’s evidence that Landale is looking to become a three-level scorer. Once again, improved fundamentals at the foul line may translate to increased success on mid range looks.
Defensively, Landale has never been known to block shots or protect the rim at a high rate, but he certainly has the size to match up against NBA centres. Although not a perfect stat, Landale’s “defended field goal percentage” sits at 50.4%, suggesting an average to slightly below average impact overall on the defensive end. At this stage in his career and considering his size, Landale is unlikely to make major improvements in lateral quickness or switchability, but if he uses his size well and makes smart reads on the defensive end, he can certainly be a plus defender for the Grizzlies.
While Landale’s per-game averages of 11.6 points and 6.5 rebounds highlight his breakout season in Memphis, the month of January paints an even better picture for Aussie basketball fans. Through ten games in January, Landale is averaging 13.9 points and 8.6 points - proving to be a regular double-double threat - in just 26.2 minutes per game. Throughout this span, his shooting splits of 55.6% from the field, 40.6% from downtown (3.2 attempts per game) and 72.7% from the foul line are all improvements on his season averages.
Whilst much of Landale’s success can be attributed to his overall growth as a player, injuries to Santi Aldama and Zach Edey have opened the door for increased opportunities. Edey has seldom been on the court this season, tallying just eleven appearances so far, whilst Aldama has missed two games only recently due to right knee soreness. In those two games, Landale has racked up a total of 37 points and 22 rebounds, including a massive double double against New Orleans.
Edey was a lottery pick for Memphis in 2024, and showed promise as a double-double machine in his limited appearances this season. The 7’3 behemoth’s eventual return poses a major threat to Landale’s minutes, but for now the Aussie is enjoying a run of incredible form. Aldama is another young big man on the Grizzlies roster, and seems to be improving each year, with current averages of 14.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. Aladma’s presence hasn’t stopped Landale from being productive off the bench, but Edey will eventually command significant minutes at the centre position.
Once a regular playoff team in the Western Conference, Memphis currently find themselves sitting on a 18-25 record, with a season that hasn’t quite gone to plan. Star point guard Ja Morant has already missed over twenty games, and he has never played more than 67 in a full season, often leaving a significant void in their back court. Landale’s arrival has certainly bolstered their front court, which is led by two-time NBA All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr., but it hasn’t been enough to turn the tide in a challenging season.
Regardless of team success however, Landale has played well enough that his stocks will skyrocket in free agency. The 30 year old signed a guaranteed one-year deal with Memphis, followed by a team option for 2026-27, so he may well find himself on the free agent market in 2026. It’s not easy to find big men who can shoot threes and also crash the offensive glass at a high rate, so NBA scouts will be interested in Landale’s progress throughout the remainder of this season.
Whether Landale remains in Memphis or finds a new team, his breakout 2025-26 season should have Boomers fans excited. As Nick Kay - who turns 34 this year - enters his late thirties, Landale could likely be called upon to serve as Australia’s go-to stretch big. His ever-improving jump shot could make him a prime target in the passing game, for playmakers such as Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels.
For now, there’s still 39 games left in the 2025-26 season (at the time of writing), and it’s anyone’s guess as to the heights Landale will hit in this breakout season.