Long path leading back to success for Phoenix Suns’ Jock Landale

When Jock Landale landed with the Phoenix Suns last month, there was an immediate re-wind to what he does best – winning.

Landale landed his dream reality nearly one year ago, signing with the San Antonio Spurs after impressive performances for Australia in the Olympics and with Melbourne United in the NBL.

But even so, joining the Spurs was always going to bring a different vibe to what he had been used to in the period prior. United won the 2021 NBL championship on the back of Landale’s Finals MVP-worthy performances.

Then, even if the United States went in as unbackable favourites for the Olympic title, the Australian Boomers posed one of the biggest threats as they eventually finished with an elusive bronze medal.

The Spurs provided the 6’11” big man with a golden opportunity, but certainly not one that was going to take him into the NBA depths of May and June. Gregg Popovich’s plucky squad got to the tenth seed before losing in the first round of the play-in tournament, ending Landale’s first year in the NBA.

Now, the Suns will give him another taste of chasing the ultimate success. Speaking to NBL radio, Landale expressed his eagerness to return to a contending organization.

"“The big thing for me was I wanna get back to championship-level basketball, and I want to play to win…You wanna surround yourself with winners. It starts at the top with Chris Paul and Devin Booker.”"

While the 26-year-old would undoubtedly be grateful for his time in San Antonio, he now finds himself with a franchise garnering much different, further reaching aspirations.

"“That’s what’s great about the Suns was these guys play such a winning level of basketball all around the court. Not just three guys … it’s a lot of them.”"

Landale describes himself as a ‘Kevin Love-type’, owing to his shooting abilities while being able to rebound physically on the interior. He averaged 4.9 points and 2.6 rebounds in just over ten minutes per game with the Spurs last season.

While he won’t necessarily be the most decisive player on how far the Suns go next season, Landale certainly knows the attitudes and actions it takes to reach the mountaintop.