After years grinding it out in Europe and a NBL championship winning campaign last season with Melbourne United, Landale finally got his NBA breakthrough after being picked up by the Spurs in the offseason.
The 26-year-old was not expected to feature much this campaign and spent the first two months on the bench, however legendary coach Gregg Popovich saw something in the former St Mary’s recruit and gave him his chance.
It was an opportunity Landale wasn’t going to let slip by with the Australian quickly working his way up the roster and cementing himself in the rotation as the Spurs backup centre.
He posted his first NBA double-double in a 101-94 win over the LA Clippers earlier this month with 10 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists and just 1 turnover in 26 minutes on the floor that showed his massive potential and has no doubt kept him high on the team's rotation ever since.
Landale spoke recently on embracing the challenge of working for minutes early on in the league, revealing he grew more as a player and person as a result.
"It's been different those first couple of months where I wasn't playing and stuff," Landale told NBA Australia.
"Whether it just be opportunity or the concussion and COVID playing a factor. It was a bit of mental grind and just learning about how to stay the course, regardless of whether or not you're seeing immediate results."
"I learned a bit about myself, despite there being distractions and not immediate results and all of that. I was still able to just really lock in on the task at hand and do what I had to do to get to where I am now."
Now seeing the fruits of his labour come to fruition with the added game-time, Landale can't rest on his laurels yet with his contract up at the Spurs come the end of the season.
He'll have to keep contributing at a high level as the Spurs try to improve on their 18-30 record, and it starts with tomorrow's matchup against the injury-hampered Chicago Bulls.
2nd in the Eastern Conference, the Bulls have been flying this season and have one of the best centers in the league in Nikola Vucevic, who is currently averaging 16.5 points and 11.3 rebounds alongside star guards Zach Lavine and Demar Derozan.
Their first matchup of the season, the Spurs welcome the Bulls to AT & T Center needing a huge effort to beat them, which if successful may unlock the blueprint to doing so many teams have been unable to crack with the second meeting coming on the 15th of February.
If Landale can make the most of this game and limit Vucevic's contribution, it could go a long way with coach Gregg Popovich in the Aussie's quest to keep forging his path in the league beyond this season.
Saturday, January 29
Chicago Bulls v San Antonio Spurs
1230-1500 (AEDT)
LIVE on SBS VICELAND and SBS On Demand
