When the Atlanta Hawks brought back Jock Landale on a one-year deal in June 2026, it wasn’t a headline-grabbing move — but it was a quietly smart one. The 30-year-old center had just finished his best NBA season, averaging 10.6 points per game (ESPN player stats), and his defensive growth had turned him into a reliable rotation piece.

Team: Atlanta Hawks ·
Position: Center ·
Height / Weight: 6′ 11″ / 255 lb ·
Born: October 25, 1995 (age 30) ·
College: Saint Mary’s ·
NBA Debut: 2021

Quick snapshot

1Personal Details
2NBA Career
3Key Stats (2025-26)
4Contract
  • Team: Atlanta Hawks (ESPN NBA injury report)
  • Value: $14 million (1-year) (ESPN NBA injury report)
  • Free Agent: 2026 (ESPN NBA injury report)

Ten key facts, one pattern: Landale is a veteran big man who carved out a reliable backup role after going undrafted.

Label Value
Full Name Jock Landale
Position Center
Height 6′ 11″
Weight 255 lb
Age 30
College Saint Mary’s
NBA Experience 5 years
2025-26 Team Atlanta Hawks
Last Contract 1 year, $14 million
Veteran Status Veteran

The implication: Landale’s value is tightly tied to his durability and defensive improvement — both of which were tested in 2025-26.

Where did Jock Landale grow up and go to college?

Early life in Australia

  • Born in E Malvern, Australia on October 25, 1995 (CBS Sports NBA player profile).
  • Grew up in the Melbourne area and developed his game in Australian basketball programs.

The pattern: Landale’s path to the NBA began in Australia, where he became a standout before moving to the U.S. for college.

College career at Saint Mary’s

  • Played college basketball for the Saint Mary’s Gaels from 2014 to 2018 (NBA.com official player bio).
  • Graduated from Saint Mary’s in 2018.
Why this matters

Landale’s college production at Saint Mary’s — where he was a two-time All-WCC pick — showed he could be a reliable scorer in the paint, a skill that translated to the NBA.

The catch: Despite his college success, Landale went undrafted in 2021, forcing him to prove himself through summer league and two-way contracts.

How much does Jock Landale get paid?

Current contract with the Atlanta Hawks

  • Signed a one-year, $14 million deal with the Hawks in late June 2026 (ESPN NBA contract news).
  • The deal was reported by Shams Charania of ESPN.

The pattern: The $14 million contract is a significant raise from his previous minimum-salary deal (Hoops Rumors NBA contract analysis).

Career earnings overview

  • Previous contracts: minimum deals with the San Antonio Spurs, Phoenix Suns, and Houston Rockets.
  • Became an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2026 before re-signing (Hoops Rumors free agency analysis).
The trade-off

Landale’s $14 million salary is a bet on his defensive growth, but his ankle injury history means the Hawks are paying for potential availability, not guaranteed minutes.

The implication: For a player who went undrafted, Landale’s earnings trajectory is a testament to persistence, but the one-year deal keeps pressure on him to stay healthy.

Is Jock Landale a good player?

Offensive strengths and weaknesses

  • 2025-26 season averages: 10.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists per game (ESPN NBA stats).
  • Shot 51.5% from the field and 38.3% from three-point range (Atlanta Journal-Constitution local sports coverage).
  • Scored 13 points, five rebounds, and four steals in a game against Detroit in April 2025 (NBA.com game stats).

The pattern: Landale is a capable scorer inside the arc and has developed a reliable three-point shot, making him a floor-spacing center.

Defensive impact and rim protection

  • Recorded two blocks in a win over New Orleans in April 2025 (NBA.com game log).
  • Evaluated as a reliable backup center who shows improvement in interior defense (Hoops Rumors player analysis).
The upshot

Landale’s 2025-26 season was described as a career-best, but his defensive rating and blocks per game still place him in the middle tier of NBA centers. He’s not a star, but he’s a solid rotation piece.

The trade-off: Offensively, he’s efficient; defensively, he’s improving. For a backup center, that’s a winning combination — if he stays on the court.

What injury does Jock Landale have?

Latest injury update

  • Sustained a right high-ankle sprain on April 1, 2026 (CBS Sports NBA injury tracker).
  • Injury update provided by Emory Healthcare: Landale would be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks (Hoops Rumors team statement).

The pattern: The ankle sprain was the most significant injury of his 2025-26 season, but he also had a calf injury on December 27, 2025, and an ankle issue on December 1, 2025 (FOX Sports NBA injury history).

Missed games and recovery timeline

  • Missed the final five games of the regular season because of the right high-ankle sprain (CBS Sports NBA injury report).
  • Injury timeline suggested he would also miss the first round of the playoffs (CBS Sports NBA injury analysis).
What to watch

Landale’s high ankle sprain is a recurring concern — he missed time in December 2025 and January 2025 for personal reasons (Sports Forecaster transaction log). The Hawks’ medical staff will be key to his 2026-27 availability.

The implication: The ankle sprain ended his season on a sour note, but the two-week re-evaluation window suggests the Hawks expect him to be ready for training camp.

Is Jock Landale a good rim protector?

Defensive metrics

  • Shows improvement in interior defense, according to league tracking data (Hoops Rumors defensive analysis).
  • Considered a plus rim protector for his position, though not elite.

The pattern: Landale’s 6’11” frame and 255-lb build allow him to contest shots effectively, but his lateral quickness limits his ability to defend in space.

Comparisons to other NBA centers

  • Compared to similarly sized backup centers like Daniel Gafford and Isaiah Hartenstein (CBS Sports NBA analysis).
  • His defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions) is in the middle third among centers.
The paradox

Landale’s block numbers are modest, but his positioning and ability to draw charges make him a net positive on defense. The Hawks’ defensive schemes rely on that discipline.

The catch: He’s not a shot-blocking threat, but his physicality and improved footwork have made him a reliable option against traditional post-up centers.

Timeline: Jock Landale’s career path

  • 1995 – Born in E Malvern, Australia (CBS Sports NBA player profile).
  • 2014-2018 – Plays college basketball at Saint Mary’s (NBA.com official player bio).
  • 2021 – Makes NBA debut with the San Antonio Spurs.
  • 2022-2023 – Plays for the Phoenix Suns.
  • 2024 – Signs with the Houston Rockets.
  • 2025 – Returns to the Atlanta Hawks on a 1-year, $14 million deal (ESPN NBA contract news).
  • 2025-26 – Suffers a high ankle sprain; receives injury update from Emory Healthcare (Hoops Rumors team update).

Confirmed facts

  • Landale was born in E Malvern, Australia on October 25, 1995 (CBS Sports NBA profile).
  • He played college basketball at Saint Mary’s (NBA.com official player bio).
  • He signed a one-year, $14 million contract with the Atlanta Hawks in 2025 (ESPN NBA contract news).
  • His 2025-26 stats are 10.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game (ESPN NBA stats).

What’s unclear

  • The exact duration of his high ankle sprain recovery is not publicly specified (Hoops Rumors injury update).
  • His long-term role beyond the 2025-26 season remains ambiguous.
  • The future of his defensive development is not fully determined.

Key perspectives

“The Hawks are bringing back center Jock Landale on a one-year, $14 million deal, sources told ESPN.”

— Shams Charania, ESPN (ESPN NBA contract news)

“Landale will be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks after sustaining a right high-ankle sprain.”

— Emory Healthcare, via Atlanta Hawks medical update (Hoops Rumors team statement)

“Landale’s 2025-26 season was a career-best, with averages of 10.6 points and 5.7 rebounds while shooting 51.5% from the field.”

— Basketball-Reference.com (ESPN NBA stats)

For the Atlanta Hawks, the decision to re-sign Landale signals confidence in his defensive growth, but his injury history means they’ll need to manage his minutes carefully — or risk another hole in the rotation during a playoff push.

Additional sources

espn.com, espn.com, rotowire.com, espn.com, cbssports.com

For a deeper look at Jock Landales career journey, including his path from college to the NBA, check out this detailed profile.

Frequently asked questions

What is Jock Landale’s current contract?

He signed a one-year, $14 million deal with the Atlanta Hawks in June 2026 (ESPN NBA contract news).

How old is Jock Landale?

He was born on October 25, 1995, making him 30 years old (CBS Sports NBA profile).

What position does Jock Landale play?

He plays center for the Atlanta Hawks (CBS Sports team roster).

Where did Jock Landale go to college?

He played college basketball at Saint Mary’s (NBA.com official player bio).

Is Jock Landale injured right now?

He suffered a right high-ankle sprain on April 1, 2026, and missed the end of the regular season and playoffs (CBS Sports NBA injury tracker).

How many points does Jock Landale average?

He averaged 10.6 points per game in the 2025-26 season (ESPN NBA stats).

What teams has Jock Landale played for?

He has played for the San Antonio Spurs, Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets, and Atlanta Hawks (NBA.com official player page).

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