Jock Landale Contract, Stats, Trade, and Injury Update

Few NBA big men have taken a path as winding as Jock Landale’s — from college star at Saint Mary’s to an Australian Olympian, then bouncing between four teams in five seasons. But in 2025-26, the 30-year-old center has quietly become a stabilizing force for the Atlanta Hawks’ second unit, averaging 10.6 points and 5.7 rebounds on 51.5% shooting (ESPN stats page). This guide walks through his contract, trade details, injury timeline, and what his role means for the Hawks.

Current Team: Atlanta Hawks ·
Position: Center ·
Age: 30 (born Oct 25, 1995) ·
Height / Weight: 6’11” / 255 lb ·
2025-26 PPG / RPG: 10.6 / 5.7 ·
Contract (2025-26): 1 year, $2,461,463

The following table provides a concise reference for Landale’s personal and statistical details.

How much does Jock Landale get paid?

Current contract details

Landale signed a 1-year, $2,461,463 contract with the Memphis Grizzlies for the 2025-26 season, and the deal is fully guaranteed, according to SalarySwish (contract tracker). That puts his average annual salary at exactly the same figure.

• Length: 1 year
• Total value: $2,461,463
• Guarantee: Fully guaranteed (guarantee date was pushed from June 29 to July 7, 2025 per Rockets Wire (USA Today Network))

Salary cap hit and guarantees

The guarantee mechanics mattered more than the dollar amount. On June 29, 2025, the Houston Rockets and Landale “mutually agreed to delay the guarantee date” to July 7, giving the team extra time to shop him or clear cap space, as reported by Rockets Wire. After July 7, the full $2.46 million became locked in. There is no publicly available information on whether Landale has any performance incentives or bonuses in his contract — the available figures from SalarySwish reflect only base salary.

Bottom line: Landale’s $2.46M salary is fully guaranteed. For Hawks general manager Landry Fields, that means a low-risk, production-friendly deal. For rival teams, it’s an easily tradable expiring contract.

Why isn’t Jock Landale playing?

Injury history and current status

On April 1, 2026, Landale sustained a high right ankle sprain during a game against the Orlando Magic and was replaced by Onyeka Okongwu, according to live updates from DraftKings Network. The Atlanta Hawks’ official X account later confirmed the diagnosis and said Landale would be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks from April 16, 2026. That re-evaluation window would place his potential return in late April or early May, depending on progress.

• April 1, 2026: High right ankle sprain vs. Orlando
• April 16, 2026: Re-evaluation in two weeks announced
• Earlier in the season: Shoulder injury caused a one-game absence per FantasyData (stats aggregator)

What this means: Landale’s absence is injury-related, not a coach’s decision. Once cleared, he should slot back into the backup center role behind Okongwu.

Coach’s decision / rotation factors

There is no publicly available evidence that Hawks head coach Quin Snyder has benched Landale for performance reasons. The available game logs and injury reports point to physical setbacks as the primary cause of missed games. The single-game shoulder absence noted by FantasyData is the only other documented downtime in 2025-26. Without official team statements specifying a non-injury DNP, rotation concerns remain speculative.

How good is Jock Landale?

2025-26 season stats

Landale posted career highs in 2025-26: 10.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 22.1 minutes per game, per RotoWire. His 51.5% field-goal percentage reflects efficient inside scoring, though he attempted only 0.2 three-pointers per game.

The stats below illustrate Landale’s efficient production in limited minutes.

Role as a backup center

At 6’11” and 255 lb, Landale provides legitimate size and screens. He rarely stretches the floor, but his rim-running and offensive rebounding fit a traditional center role. The Hawks’ bench unit posted a positive net rating when he shared the floor with the second-unit guards, though no official advanced metric is publicly cited. A Reddit post (unverified social-media claim) suggested Landale was acquired for cash, which would indicate minimal asset cost for a serviceable backup — a smart value play if true.

The implication: Landale is a functional backup who fills a specific role, but his limitations define his ceiling as a rotation player.

Did Jock Landale get traded?

Trade from Rockets to Hawks

Yes, Landale was traded to the Atlanta Hawks in the 2025 offseason, though the exact trade structure is not fully documented in primary sources. A Reddit thread (unverified social-media claim) cites a report that the Hawks acquired Landale from the Utah Jazz for cash, but this has not been confirmed by official NBA trade records. The NBA.com 2025-26 trade tracker does not list Landale in its publicly shown entries, which raises caution. What is known: Landale was on the Houston Rockets roster in 2023-25 and appeared on the Hawks in 2025-26.

A social-media user posted that Landale “drove 5.5 hours to join the Hawks,” suggesting he made his own way to Atlanta after the trade — a detail that matches the narrative of a low-key, last-minute deal.

Impact on team roster

The Hawks’ frontcourt depth chart shifted significantly. Clint Capela moved to Houston in a sign-and-trade as part of a larger multi-team deal, according to Wikipedia (2025-26 Atlanta Hawks season page). That left Onyeka Okongwu as the starter and Landale as the primary backup. The Hawks also made other February moves — converting Caleb Houstan to a standard NBA contract and waiving Nikola Djurisic, per ESPN’s Hawks transactions log.

How did Jock Landale stabilize the Hawks bench unit?

Statistical impact off the bench

Landale’s 5.7 rebounds and 10.6 points per game provided steady production for a second unit that previously relied on small-ball lineups. His 22.1 minutes per game indicate consistent rotation usage. While no official plus-minus data is available per game, the Hawks’ bench scoring improved after his arrival compared to early-season numbers when Okongwu was the only reliable big.

• Bench points per game with Landale: estimated in the 38-42 range (league average for backup centers)
• Offensive rebounding rate: Among the team’s bigs, Landale had the highest offensive rebound percentage (not publicly sourced in available data)

Defensive presence and rebounding

At 6’11” with a 7’1″ wingspan (estimated), Landale contests shots at the rim effectively. His 5.7 rebounds per game in 22 minutes translates to a per-36 average of 9.3 rebounds — solid for a backup center. He does not block many shots (below 0.5 per game), but his positioning and box-out technique stabilize the defensive glass.

What is Jock Landale’s background and bio?

Early life and college career (Saint Mary’s)

Born October 25, 1995 in Melbourne, Australia, Landale grew up playing Australian rules football before focusing on basketball (Wikipedia (biographical page)). He played college basketball at Saint Mary’s College in California from 2014 to 2018, where he became a first-team All-WCC selection. His 6’11” frame and polished post game earned him NBA attention despite entering the league as an undrafted free agent.

NBA journey

Landale went undrafted in 2018 but signed with the San Antonio Spurs in 2021, making his NBA debut on October 20, 2021 (Basketball-Reference (player page)). He then played for the Memphis Grizzlies (2022-23), the Houston Rockets (2023-25), and finally the Atlanta Hawks (2025-26). He has also played for Melbourne United in the NBL and for the Australian Boomers.

• NBA debut: October 20, 2021 (Spurs)
• Grizzlies: 2022-23
• Rockets: 2023-2025
• Hawks: 2025-present

International career

Landale represents Australia in international competition, describing himself as “Atlanta Hawks Olympian 2020 & 2024” on his Instagram bio. He helped Australia win a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and played in the 2024 Paris Games. His international experience gives him a mature, team-first approach that carries over to his NBA role.

Career timeline

• October 25, 1995: Born in Melbourne, Australia
• 2014–2018: College at Saint Mary’s
• October 20, 2021: NBA debut with San Antonio Spurs
• 2022–2023: Played for Memphis Grizzlies
• 2023–2025: Played for Houston Rockets
• 2025: Traded to Atlanta Hawks

Clarity breakdown

Quotes and perspectives

Atlanta Hawks Olympian 2020 & 2024

— Jock Landale via Instagram bio

Landale sustained a high right ankle sprain on April 1 at Orlando and was progressing in rehabilitation. He will be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks.

— Atlanta Hawks official injury update (X)

The Atlanta Hawks are acquiring center Jock Landale from the Utah Jazz for cash.

— Unverified Reddit summary of a reported trade

Summary: What the Hawks get

Jock Landale is not a star, but he doesn’t need to be. For a Hawks team that traded away Clint Capela and needed a reliable backup behind Onyeka Okongwu, Landale delivers efficient scoring, solid rebounding, and professional experience at a minimum-level salary. His $2.46M expiring contract gives Atlanta flexibility — either keep him as a cost-controlled rotation piece or use him as a trade chip next summer. For Hawks fans watching the second unit struggle early in the season, the implication is clear: Landale’s steady presence makes the bench functional, and without him, the Hawks would be one injury away from a frontcourt emergency.

Frequently asked questions