Jock Landale on baby joy and how he found a new NBA home in Memphis

From settled in Houston to a new home and a new baby in a matter of days, Jock Landale opens up on his ‘life changing’ week and the chaos of the NBA Free Agency period.

Jock Landale’s basketball future was up in the air as NBA free agency opened but the Boomers Olympic star only had one thing on his mind – the birth of his first child.

Archie Hunter Landale came into the world on July 1, a baby boy to the Melbourne-born big man and wife India.

Landale was by India’s side as she gave birth and as little Archie required special care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to clear fluid from his lungs.

Landale said he was “completely speechless” the moment he laid eyes on Archie and, speaking to Code Sports 10 days on, he’s still struck by the “life-defining” moment.

“It honestly is life changing,” Landale said.

“At the time, I was in the operating room with India and I was completely speechless.

“I think I had this moment of clarity when I finally saw him and it’s just everything.

“It’s perspective at its finest, in my mind.

Jock Landale with his son Archie Hunter. Picture: Jock Landale/Instagram

Landale was born on July 1, 2025. Picture: Jock Landale/Instagram

“I’ve spent a lot of years worrying about the wrong shit but, in that moment in time, you’re kind of taken aback, and you’re like, ‘Oh, wow, this is all that really matters’.

“It’s one of the best things that’s ever happened to us.

“I’m so glad that my wife and him made it out healthy and I’ve just been soaking up every second that I can.”

As Landale focused on India and Archie, he knew Houston, the team he’d spent the past two seasons with, would likely pivot away from him and that he faced the daunting task of finding a new NBA home in free agency.

Jock Landale with pregnant wife India, prior to the July 1 birth of son Archie. Picture: Jock Landale/Instagram

Landale and his wife await the birth. Picture: Jock Landale/Instagram

“That was a full on day, I had to let my agent (Sammy Wloszczowski of Sports International Group) know the certain situations I’d be open to if they eventuated because, in certain scenarios when you get an offer on the table, you might get 20 minutes on the clock to give an answer, take it or leave it,” Landale said.

“Archie was delivered by C-section and he ended up going into the NICU and, what was meant to be an hour process turned into about five hours, so I ended up being away from the phone a little bit longer than intended.

“But I was in the moment, my sole focus until I got on the phone (with his agent) at about 7pm that night was on my wife and my kid.

Landale with his Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze medal. Picture: Getty Images

“My mum was there to provide us with some support and, once India and Archie were settled, I was like, all right, I can take a breath.”

With India and Archie in safe hands, Landale picked up the phone to check in on his playing future.

Two days later, he was waived by Houston, leaving him free to sign with a new club.

A number of potential NBA destinations emerged but Landale said the Memphis Grizzlies “stood out” and he agreed to a one-year deal.

“It’s a place that really suits me as a person and as a player, that kind of grit and grind mentality of Memphis Grizzlies basketball,” he said.

“It fits my play style and I’m just really excited to get started.”

Jock Landale spent the past two NBA seasons in Houston. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

Perhaps most importantly for Landale, after a season where he played sparingly in Houston – but earned an eye-watering $12 million – Landale finds an opportunity where he can remind the NBA what he is capable of and shore up his future with what will hopefully be a long-term deal next off-season.

“I’m going to use this opportunity to put myself back on the map a little bit in a Memphis jersey, and hopefully it’s a long-term relationship,” he said.

“I had two years in Houston that changed my family’s life from a standard of living perspective and I’m extremely grateful for what they provided us but, as those two years trickled on, I just really missed playing basketball.

“I want to do something special, contribute to winning and build towards something a little more long term and stable, going into my 30s.

“So I think that this has really worked itself out to be a neat opportunity and the warm welcome I got really invigorated me for what’s to come.”

Jock Landale played with fire at the Paris Olympics. Picture: AFP

That warm welcome extended to a text from Memphis superstar Ja Morant, one of the NBA’s best players – something he hadn’t experienced in previous stops in San Antonio, Phoenix and Houston.

“As soon as the news broke (of his Grizzlies agreement), Ja flicked me a text and said, ‘excited to play and work together and see if we can build something’,” he said.

“That was a cool moment and a first for me – there’s something to that that really excites you and gets you wanting to play just as hard for your teammates and the club’s culture.”

The Landale trio will be back in Melbourne in September to introduce Archie to their families and friends – and catch his former team Partizan Belgrade face off against Panathinaikos at John Cain Arena in the Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament, before heading back for training camp in Memphis later that month.

Originally published as Jock Landale on baby joy and how he found a new NBA home in Memphis