Landale Still Shooting for NBA Dream

Melbourne United recruit Jock Landale has revealed just how close he was to securing an NBA deal this offseason, saying the decision came down to an agonising “24-hour period”. 

Landale has starred in high level European basketball over the past couple of seasons which led him to attracting mass NBA interest this offseason. Speaking on NBL Overtime, the 25-year-old has opened up on how close he got to achieving his NBA dream.

“Things got down to a 24-hour period where there were two teams that said we want to sign you, everyone in the front office has signed off on it and now we just need to run it through the President and the Owners,” Landale said.

“(They said) we will give you an answer in 24 hours. I was away with my girlfriend for a weekend and I got this answer and the whole weekend was ruined.

“I was so anxious just waiting for a call or a text from my agent and it never came.

“We got really close to the point where that team didn’t even end up signing anyone because they did massive extensions and they just ran out of money in a COVID year.”

It marked the second time this year Landale fell short of signing an NBA deal due to circumstances outside of his control, as the global pandemic blocked a potential move into the NBA bubble earlier this year.

“I put a lot of faith into the fact that the NBA would happen this offseason and for a very long time there it genuinely was going to happen,” Landale said.

“Until the NBA said European guys couldn’t go and play in the bubble, that was a bit of a gut punch. We had firm offers from three teams that said hey if this thing opens up, we are going to sign you to maybe a two-year deal, guaranteed deal.

“For that to all shut down, that was the first lot of disappointment and then obviously I waited for this free agency which was a real anxious time and when that fell through again, I was like, this keeps happening, I don’t know what else I can do.”

Despite the constant disappointments, Landale has maintained a positive mindset and is ready to dominate the upcoming NBL season with United, in the hope it eventually opens up doors to the NBA.

“The best way I’ve started looking at it is I’ve kept aiming for the stars and landing on the moon,” Landale said.

“I’m ambitious and I keep going for it and I’m going to continue to keep going for it and if I don’t ever make it, I’m pretty happy with the legacy I’m already leaving and I’m going to keep going down that route.”

Landale and Melbourne open the 2020/21 Hungry Jack’s NBL Season against the South East Melbourne Phoenix in the Throwdown on January 10.

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