Tokyo Olympics 2021: Boomers star Jock Landale secures multi-year NBA deal with San Antonio Spurs
Boomers star Jock Landale finally has an NBA deal after signing a two-year contract with the San Antonio Spurs.
Landale has impressed in Australia's 4-0 start at the Tokyo Olympics, providing vital outside shooting and rebounding, particularly after the injury to Aron Baynes. He has averaged 13.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per game so far in Tokyo.
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The NBA deal has been a long time coming for the 25-year-old, who went undrafted in 2018 and spent time with the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks in the Summer League in both 2018 and 2019.
Landale had previously been unable to take up NBA offers due to a substantial buyout number set by his Lithuanian team Zalgiris Kaunas, before finally secured an exit last August, before signing with NBL side Melbourne United.
Jock Landale has stepped up big-time in the absence of Boomers veteran Aron Baynes in Tokyo Getty
In his sole season at home, Landale was pivotal in United's 2021 NBL championship win, and was named the NBL grand final MVP.
Landale joins an extremely young group in San Antonio, with the Spurs embarking on a youth movement after the departures of DeMar DeRozan and Landale's Boomers teammate Patty Mills this summer.
After playing a key role in the Spurs' 2014 title, Mills once again gets a chance to compete for a championship on a star-studded Brooklyn Nets roster after signing a two-year, $US12 million ($16m) deal.
Landale's move to the NBA is yet another boost for the NBL which has seen the likes of LaMelo Ball and RJ Hampton make successful transitions from the Australian league.
Australian teenager Josh Giddey is another NBL success story, after being drafted sixth overall in the NBA Draft last week after spending a season with the Adelaide 36ers.
