Jock Landale spent the majority of the 2023-24 season receiving sporadic minutes in coach Ime Udoka's rotation. And when Udoka called upon his name, there were moments Landale did not play beyond 10 minutes.
His shortest appearance came during the Houston Rockets' 13-point defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Feb. 25. Landale played 1:28 in the closing moments of the Rockets' disappointing loss inside the Toyota Center.
But a potential season-ending injury to Alperen Şengün sustained on March 5 catapulted Landale into the rotation. He has since played a vital role in helping the Rockets fill the vacancy left by Şengün's injury, playing a season-high 22.3 minutes over the previous four games while averaging 10.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.3 blocks.
"It has been tiring but fun," Landale said. "It is always good to get an opportunity to get out there with the boys to make a push toward the Play-In Tournament. I think we have gained some good traction. That's where my mind has been; having a lot of fun."
Landale joined the Rockets on a four-year deal worth $32 million in July. He was coming off a successful tenure with the Phoenix Suns. At the time of his free agency acquisition, Landale appeared to be a solid backup to play behind Şengün.
However, the Rockets did not reap the benefits of their off-season signing until Houston's two-game series against his former team inside the Footprint Center. Landale started to play his way back into the rotation amid Şengün's foul troubles. His production against the Suns helped Udoka re-established trust in his backup center.
Seventeen days later, Landale came off the bench to help the Rockets win their sixth consecutive game following a 135-114 victory over the Washington Wizards. He played 20 minutes in the win and recorded 10 points and a career-high seven blocks inside the Capital One Arena.
Tuesday night, Landale became the first player in franchise history to record seven or more blocks in a game since Dwight Howard, who achieved the feat as Houston's starting center in 2015.
“It was great; we acknowledged him in the locker room," Udoka told reporters after the game. "He was part of the unit that really got us going, from an energy standpoint. Meeting guys at the rim, making the right plays in there and deterring shots, even if he didn’t block it."
Landale is one of several players responsible for the Rockets' late-season push for the Play-In Tournament. Following their victory against the Wizards, the Rockets are 2.5 games back of the Golden State Warriors for the 10th and final Play-In Tournament spot in the Western Conference.
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