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Third-year prospect Alperen Sengun projects to be the starting center for the Houston Rockets in the 2023-24 season, and his diverse offensive game makes him a fascinating talent.
But the Rockets prioritized finding a defensive big to complement Sengun this offseason. After being turned down at the last moment by Milwaukee’s Brook Lopez, they transitioned to Jock Landale of the Phoenix Suns, and he’s ready to embrace the opportunity.
Landale, who averaged 6.6 points (52.8% FG) and 4.1 rebounds in 14.2 minutes last season, is on a four-year contract worth $32 million, though only the first season is guaranteed.
But the 6-foot-11 Australia native tells ESPN’s Olgun Uluc that such a delicate contractual status plays to his character, adding the deal provides “no ability for me to take my foot off the gas.”
“When I spoke to Ime (Udoka), he said you’ve got to come in and earn it, just like everyone else,” the 27-year-old told Uluc. “I think that’s a healthy style of competition.”
Jock Landale talks his new Houston Rockets deal, the team’s expectations, and betting on himself: “There's no ability to take my foot off the gas… that's really important and plays into my character… I've still got to earn everything,” he told ESPN.https://t.co/ItEZgU05mc
— Olgun Uluc (@OlgunUluc) July 4, 2023
Ultimately, Landale says he’s ready to do the dirty work for the Rockets, which could offer the type of stylistic contrast with Sengun that Houston had reportedly sought. Among his comments:
I believe I’ve found a role that really fits into a mold that any team needs. Playing between the gaps, doing all the dirty work; every team needs that. You look at Dillon Brooks, for example. That’s the certified player that he is. He’s someone that comes in and does the dirty work every night and gets the job done at a high level. … Toward the end of the season, I realized that the easiest way for me to do what I’ve done and produce at the level that I’ve produced is to do the dirty work and play off other peoples’ creation, and not really try and force anything.
That’ll be the message I try to impart on everyone is: every team needs a guy willing to sacrifice their own numbers and bodies and all of that, to go out there and help the superstars get loose and make their lives easier. That’s where I’m really handy, and figured that out with (Kevin Durant) and (Devin Booker), is they needed someone who was willing to do the dirty work for them. That’s the role I see myself sticking in for a long time, and I’m completely happy with that. I love it.
Landale goes on to refer to the Rockets as having an “amazing crop of young talent” with “arguably one of the best coaches in the NBA,” adding that he expects Houston to be in 2023-24 playoff contention while potentially playing in play-in tournament games.
ESPN’s complete interview with Landale, who is entering his third NBA season this fall, can be read here.
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