Jock Landale, an Australian professional basketball player for the Memphis Grizzlies, credits his parents for his successful NBA career.
His parents, though unfamiliar with basketball, fully supported and encouraged his dream of becoming an NBA player.
Jock had given up playing basketball for two years but picked it up again at Geelong Grammar School in Corio, Victoria.
He secured a scholarship to Saint Mary’s College and led his team to the 2017 NCAA tournament with his dominant performances.
Sadly, he was undrafted in the 2018 NBA draft and signed with the Atlanta Hawks for the NBA Summer League. On July 31, 2018, he signed a two-year deal with Partizan of the ABA League.
Likewise, he signed a 1+1 season deal with the Lithuanian champions Žalgiris Kaunas in May 2019 and played for the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2019 Las Vegas Summer League.
Jock signed a one-year deal with Melbourne United for the 2020–21 NBL season and led his team to the 2021 NBL Grand Final, where he won the NBL Grand Final MVP Award.
He started his NBA career with the San Antonio Spurs in August 2021, but he was traded to the Atlanta Hawks in June 2022. He played for the Houston Rockets in 2023 before signing with the Grizzlies in 2025.
Hard to put into words what this piece of history means. So much of where I am at today started with my one and only scholarship offer and decision to attend a college tucked away in the hills. To now be up in the rafters alongside some Gael and Australian legends leaves me speechless. Often we, as athletes, are always focused on the next thing and it can be hard to soak in these moments when they come.
Jock Landale
Jock Landale’s Parents Are The Supportive Behind His NBA Journey
Jock Landale, the son of Suellen Landale and Clive Landale, was born on October 25, 1995, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
His parents raised him in a tight-knit family alongside his brother, Sam, and sister, Victoria. Moreover, his rise to the NBA wouldn’t have been possible without the encouragement of his parents.
Despite having no family ties to basketball, Suellen and Clive played a pivotal role in shaping Jock’s career, even when he initially resisted the sport.
The NBA star had little interest in basketball, preferring Australian Rules Football (AFL) and cricket instead. However, his parents saw potential in him and encouraged him to pursue a career in basketball.
My parents threw me into basketball for no reason. We have no history of basketball in our family, nobody in our family is really that tall, nothing. So they were just like, ‘You should try it out.’ And I used to hate it. Like, I used to kick and scream and be like, ‘I don’t want to go, I don’t want to do this.’
Jock Landale
After attending Timbertop, an outdoor-focused campus of Geelong Grammar School renowned for fostering discipline and resilience, Jock returned home with a renewed drive.
He told his parents he wanted to give basketball another shot, and from that moment, his focus shifted entirely.
Clive arranged private training sessions with a coach he was familiar with.
As you could imagine, his skills were a bit rusty after going a couple years without touching a ball. Timbertop had a massive impact on him in terms of adjusting his desire to achieve and really [wanting] to put in the hard work to get somewhere. That was the key change.
Clive Landale
From that point on, Jock was single-minded about basketball and getting as far as he possible could.
Jock’s hard work paid off playing in the NBL, EuroLeague, and eventually the NBA. He had signed a $48 million deal with the Houston Rockets in 2023.
His parents congratulated him on his $48 million transfer to the Houston Rockets in July 2023. They take pride in their son’s accomplishments and often share glimpses of their personal lives on social media.
Jock Landale’s Family Owns A Farm In Australia
The Landale family has worked the land in Deniliquin, Australia, a small town in the rugged bush country of New South Wales, for over 150 years.
The farm is a 5,000-acre property that has been passed down through generations, traditionally entrusted to the eldest son.
Jock’s father, Clive Landale, a retired money manager, took over when his father could no longer manage the demanding work.
He planned to move his family from Melbourne back to Deniliquin full-time, embracing the rural life that has defined their family for centuries.
They primarily grow rice, wheat, and high-yield crops while raising sheep and cattle. It’s a life of hard work and a deep connection to the land which Jock has admired.
Despite the basketball success, the NBA star often imagines himself returning to the farm one day, taking over as the next steward of the family legacy.
He loves the idea of working outdoors, breathing fresh air, and embracing the peaceful solitude of rural life. Moreover, he pictures himself riding motorbikes, shooting clay targets, or fishing in the river.
Jock’s basketball journey has taken him far from the fields of Deniliquin. His coaches and teammates at Saint Mary’s were initially skeptical of “Jock the Farmer.”
His work ethic translated seamlessly to the court, enabling him to become a dominant force in college basketball and, ultimately, in the NBA.
Nonetheless, Jock Landale remains deeply tied to his family’s land, a poignant reminder of his roots. Perhaps he’ll return one day.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Jock Landale married his longtime girlfriend, India Landale, and they recently welcomed their newborn, Archie Hunter Landale, on July 1, 2025.
- He stands 2.11 m and weighs about 116 kg.
- He represents the Australian national team and won a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
