The Austin Spurs beat the Texas Legends from first end to last bell, guiding their 125-98 G-Affiliate teammates away from the friendly confines of the HEB center. Although every rookie for Austin scored at least 16 points, it was newcomer Jock Landall who delivered the most outstanding performance as he brought a new dynamic to the hardwoods of the Silver and Black Vets.
Jock faced an uphill battle toward winning minutes when he signed a two-year minimum league contract with San Antonio this off-season. The 26-year-old rookie not only had to adjust to a higher level of competition in the NBA after winning the Grand Finals MVP with Melbourne United in the NBL. But Zach Collins, Drew Eubank, Thaddeus Young all thought they had more direct ways to turn inside the spin.
An unintended shoulder-to-dome from Lonnie Walker IV in the middle of a show against the Miami Heat kept Landale away from the hardwoods for the rest of pre-season and training camp. As if that sudden collision wasn’t enough, the Australian big man has landed COVID-19 protocols in just eight games on the rookie tour with Tottenham, leaving him well behind the schedule.
After eight brief appearances to win the Silver and the Black, mostly in a clean-up job with the results of each game but was determined, San Antonio made a somewhat surprising announcement to assign Jock to the J-League branch. Although the decision drew some scrutiny from certain parts of the fan base, this was undoubtedly the right move for a first-year player looking for a beat.
Landale immediately made his mark on the match on his Austin Spurs debut, scoring the first bucket of the night with a beautiful hook shot over his left shoulder. He kept things going with a powerful finishing touch at the edge of a pick-and-roll game, three spot as a trailer, and powerful resounding streaks after he patiently snuck his way into Dunker’s spot after putting up a powerful screen off the ball.
The sixteen-eleven captain went on to display an extended display of intriguing offensive skills on his way to 26 points, eight rebounds, and three assists in 12 of 14 shootings. Jock was by far the most dominant player on the field for either team, using his physical abilities and frame It weighs 256 pounds for deep centering in the shaft before pulling a set of flashes and fakes for the ball to catch the defender by surprise.
His refinement shined in a distinctive role for Austin, and his ability to extend the ground, step into mid-range singles jumpers, and deliver precise entry points and pocket passes are the reason PATFO is excited to bring him on board this summer. There aren’t many seven-footed players who can map the field like Landale, which can earn him a few cake points with a coaching staff that loves ball movement.
Despite his versatility as a shooter, tester, resistor, and big-box, Jock also illustrated a disturbing lack of lateral navigation to go along with the limited vertical pop versus legends. Carlik Jones detonated by Landale covering falls, and none of the competing guards hesitated to drive into his body, often a second or two behind when trying to intercept or alter shots in the cup.
While the defensive miscommunication with unfamiliar teammates was understandable, Jock seemed lost on an island when Texas was in transition, often taking awkward corners and poking around during the scramble to stop a quick break. There have also been several occasions on the switches on the perimeter where heavy feet have left the Landale looking more like a classic lumber than the rim guard it had on the NBL.
Good outweighs evil. Given that this was the first time Jock has played more than 20 minutes since the Tokyo Olympics, it’s hard to blame him for appearing gassed here and there. Head coach Petar Bocic has deployed Landale in seven minutes throughout each quarter. The bronze medalist responded with a productive basketball as Spurs edged Texas by 27 points while on the ground.
Landale likely won’t drain 85.7% of his shots for the rest of his time in Austin, but he won’t have to if he wants to prove himself to this training machine. From aggressive pitches and selfless passing to constant attacking rebounds and steady screens, the former St Mary’s University excellence checks all the boxes when it comes to the fundamentals that Spurs look for in their players.
If Jock can stay aggressive and assert his dominance while keeping his chin up throughout the tried-and-true G League process, he might catch the attention of coach Greg Popovich. And at the very least, receiving a consistent in-game burn could help him get back to peak fitness, which could come in very handy if the San Antonio Spurs asked him to take a short trip down I-35.