Aussies Abroad: Landale reflects on “wild” season

Feeling more valued than ever in the NBA and over the injury that brought an abrupt end to his breakout season, a hungry Jock Landale believes he's only just scratching the surface in the world's premier competition.

The Australian centre was disillusioned 12 months ago, eyeing options in Europe and even a possible return home to the National Basketball League, where he was a key figure in Melbourne United's 2021 championship.

But a "wild year" which started in Memphis and ended in Atlanta provided Landale with opportunities to prove to himself and the entire NBA he belongs at the highest level.

The 30-year-old had career-best averages for points (11.3), rebounds (6.5), assists (1.7) and steals (0.6) with the Memphis Grizzlies and continued his strong form with the Atlanta Hawks in their run to the playoffs after being traded.

"I really reignited that spark to be in this (NBA) environment and hopefully I can play in the league for another five years or so," Landale told AAP.

"I enjoy the challenge of improving and silencing some of the critics.

"A lot of people thought I'd never last in the NBA and never thought I'd be sought-after, and I think that I'm starting to prove myself to be quite a beneficial player for a team.

"I want to keep on growing in that capacity and if hunger was an issue then I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing."

Landale faces an uncertain future as a free agent this off-season, but would jump at the chance to re-join Atlanta under coach Quin Snyder, alongside fellow Boomers star and close mate Dyson Daniels.

"There's a real 'college team' kind of environment where everyone kind of rocks with each other, and that's a bit rare in the NBA," Landale said.

"It was refreshing, man. It was real refreshing and I thoroughly enjoyed being around that group.

"I'm obviously a free agent now and there's no real scope on what's going to happen just yet, but that's a great program that I have a lot of interest in going back to.

"I would love to spend some more time in Atlanta and get to know the city and hopefully settle into one spot for a long while."

Landale admitted going into a "panic" in February when, despite playing the best basketball of his career, he was traded by Memphis to Utah Jazz.

The 211cm centre was on the move again less than 24 hours later when the Jazz traded him to Atlanta, and he famously drove six hours to join the Hawks for their game the following night.

The result was a career-high 26 points and 11 rebounds, including a crucial late three-pointer, ironically in a win over Utah.

"I felt like I had three seasons in one. It was pretty crazy," Landale said of the 2025-26 campaign.

"I get to Atlanta and obviously they'd seen me performing in Memphis, and wanted me to help the team out. Mate, I loved it."

Landale's season came to a sudden halt in devastating circumstances in April when he was the victim of a flagrant foul by Goga Bitadze.

The resulting ankle injury sidelined Landale for the Hawks' playoffs campaign, where they suffered a 4-2 series defeat to the New York Knicks in the first round.

"It was frustrating. It changed the course of our season a little bit," Landale said.

"We found a nice groove as a squad and it feels like that kind of derailed that continuity that we'd built.

"A lot of the boys like Mouhamed Gueye picked up the slack and did an incredible job, but I really feel like I could've helped in the Knicks series and would've liked to have been out there putting my mark on that series as well."

As for whether Landale has any lingering hard feelings against Georgian centre Bitadze, you'll have to read between lines.

"I'll keep that one to myself, brother," Landale laughed.

Landale felt "stuck in mud" while trying to rush back for the Hawks' playoffs campaign, but has since rested the ankle and recovered in time to give himself a full off-season to get in shape.

"There was no surgery, thankfully," he said.

"Rest was something I couldn't really get whilst I was rehabbing and I feel like it's exactly what I needed.

"I took a full week off and the ankle made some good progress in that time. If I was called to lace them up today I'd be good to go."

Landale is on a month-long trip home to Melbourne, where he was a headline talent at the first ever NBA House Australia event this month.

He will holiday with family in Europe, including hiking through the Dolomites and relaxing on a beach, before spending about one month in Paris preparing for the new NBA season.