Throughout the 2024 campaign, Jock Landale brought hustle and size to the Houston Rockets’ rotation, providing valuable depth behind the starting frontcourt. He played a key role in supporting the Rockets’ starting lineup, contributing off the bench to help the team maximize its performance. The Rockets’ depth and consistency helped them finish near the top of the Western Conference standings in the NBA.
The Houston Rockets showed significant progress last season, finishing second in the Western Conference standings, trailing only the surging Oklahoma City Thunder. Living up to their ‘Clutch City’ reputation, the Rockets secured 52 wins and a return to the playoffs, but their postseason run was cut short after falling to the Golden State Warriors.
Jock Landale’s first, and only, season with the Rockets
Australian center Jock Landale arrived in Houston with high expectations, eager to prove his value after a promising season with the Phoenix Suns. Signed by the Rockets ahead of the 2024 campaign, Landale was seen as a promising addition to bolster the team’s frontcourt depth at Toyota Center.
He signed a lucrative contract of 4 years and $32 million with the Texas team. However, at the start of the season, Landale’s season got off to a difficult start, as injuries and limited opportunities affected his ability to establish a rhythm. At the end, he showed his real potential and demonstrated the influence that he can have inside the team.
During the 2024 season, the towering Australian center, standing at 6-foot-11, appeared in 42 games for the Houston Rockets. Throughout his time on the court, Jock Landale averaged 4.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, providing depth in the frontcourt rotation.
Jock Landale Parts Ways with the Houston Rockets Earlier Than Expected.
Despite showing flashes of value late in the season, the Houston Rockets ultimately chose to release Jock Landale ahead of his July 7 contract guarantee date, allowing him to explore opportunities with other teams. This information was confirmed by the ESPN journalist, Shams Charania, who posted on X about Landale’s situation.
Speculation continues to grow that the arrivals of Kevin Durantand Clint Capela played a key role in the Rockets’ decision to part ways with Jock Landale, as the team now carries three centers and faces the need to manage payroll ahead of the 2025 season.
Landale’s departure reflects the growing urgency for Houston to balance roster depth with financial efficiency, especially following high-profile moves like the acquisition of Kevin Durant. With championship aspirations in sight, the Rockets are reshaping their rotation to maximize talent around core players while keeping long-term flexibility intact, a strategy that leaves little margin for underperforming contracts.
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