Jock Landale’s Hawks Debut Makes a Statement - and Fills a Much-Needed Void in Atlanta’s Frontcourt
It didn’t take long for Jock Landale to make his presence felt in Atlanta. In fact, it only took one game.
In his Hawks debut, Landale put together a stat line that turned heads across the league: 26 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 blocks in 31 minutes. He was nearly automatic inside the arc (5-of-6) and knocked down five of his eight attempts from deep. That’s not just a solid debut - that’s a blueprint for what the Hawks have been missing.
To be clear, this isn’t about comparing Landale to Kristaps Porzingis in terms of overall talent. Porzingis is the more gifted player, no question.
But even at his best during his brief stint in Atlanta, Porzingis never strung together a performance quite like this - a complete, all-around game that checked every box. He had his moments: 20-point nights, double-digit rebound games, even the occasional multi-block showing.
But never all at once.
That’s where Landale steps in - not as a star, but as a stabilizer. And right now, that’s exactly what the Hawks need.
The Hawks Finally Have Frontcourt Depth - For Real This Time
When the season started, the Hawks looked like they had something brewing in the frontcourt. Porzingis and Onyeka Okongwu gave Atlanta a dynamic one-two punch at center, each bringing a different flavor to the position.
Porzingis stretched the floor and protected the rim, while Okongwu brought energy, physicality, and interior defense. It worked - for a while.
But Porzingis only made it through 17 games before going down in late November. At that point, the Hawks were 11-8 and sitting comfortably in the top half of the Eastern Conference.
Since then? A 15-19 slide has dragged them back toward the Play-In range - a familiar, frustrating territory for a team that’s struggled to break through.
Porzingis’ injury was more serious than initially expected, but this wasn’t exactly out of left field. His injury history is well-documented. Atlanta’s front office - led by GM Onsi Saleh - knew the risk and gambled anyway, without securing a reliable third center to carry the load if (or when) Porzingis went down.
Koloko’s Brief Run Highlighted the Problem
To address the depth issue, the Hawks signed Christian Koloko in January, and to his credit, the team rattled off a four-game win streak shortly after. He brought size and effort, and for a moment, it looked like Atlanta had patched the hole.
But Koloko’s limitations became clear. He’s bounced around the league this season and is still more of a developmental piece than a rotation-ready contributor.
And when push came to shove - specifically, in Landale’s debut - Koloko didn’t see the floor. With Okongwu out, that should’ve been Koloko’s moment.
Instead, head coach Quin Snyder went with Landale. That decision said plenty.
Landale Is the Real Deal - and the Right Fit
Landale isn’t a project. He’s not a tweener.
He’s a 30-year-old, battle-tested, true center who knows exactly who he is. He brings a reliable stretch-five skill set, can crash the offensive glass, and while he’s not a lockdown defender, he’s more than capable of holding his own as a rim protector.
That alone gives him a leg up on some of the younger, less polished bigs on the roster.
And unlike other frontcourt options Atlanta has experimented with - like Asa Newell or Mouhamed Gueye - Landale doesn’t need to be molded into a center. He already is one. That matters, especially for a team that’s been forced to get creative with lineups due to injuries and roster gaps.
If Landale can keep producing at even a fraction of what he showed in his debut, this could turn out to be one of the savviest midseason pickups of the year - not just for Atlanta, but across the league.
Stability at the Five Changes Everything
For the first time in a long time, the Hawks have three legitimate centers. That’s not a luxury - it’s a necessity.
No matter who’s available on a given night, Atlanta now has a true five to anchor the lineup. That gives Snyder options.
It gives the team consistency. And most importantly, it gives the Hawks a chance to stabilize the season and build some momentum heading into the stretch run.
Landale might not be the flashiest name, but in a season where the Hawks have been searching for answers in the middle, he just might be the solution they’ve been waiting for.