Monty Williams has not forgotten about Jock Landale.
The Phoenix coach says the “annoying” Australian exceeded expectations in an excellent begin on the Suns, regardless that the participant now finds himself again on the top of the bench.
Landale performed between 10 and 23 minutes in his first 9 video games of the season, usually matching star centre Deandre Ayton’s output to rapidly enamour himself to an aspirational fan base.
It appeared a dream transfer following a rookie season in San Antonio the place he had proven his class however been starved of alternative.
Williams has performed Bismack Biyombo forward of Landale not too long ago although, the Australian not utilized in three straight video games earlier than chipping in with priceless 4 and five-minute cameos in wins this week that took the western convention leaders to 14-6.
“He (Williams) just needed someone to come in and get the job done, and that’s kind of been my role the last two games,” Landale instructed AAP.
“All I can really control right now is making sure that I’m ready to go, because he did say to me at some point, ‘You know, things will come back around’.
“But that is the business of being a backup within the NBA … they fight issues and I’m simply ensuring that he can have faith in me to name my title at any level.”
Williams says he does.
“(He’s) fairly annoying, the Australian factor drives me loopy,” a smiling Williams said of the 27-year-old.
“It’s been a little bit of a whirlwind and his potential to adapt has been great.
“(He) came into our gym in the middle of summer, acclimated and worked his tail off … to the point where players were like, ‘Man, this guy can go’.
“He gained minutes, helped us a ton after which to not play for a couple of video games and preserve his angle and work ethic says loads about him.
“He’s been a breath of fresh air.”
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Crediting the All-Stars’ selflessness for his clean transition, Landale says it’s “easy basketball to play, if you’re half smart”.
Landale has carried that confidence throughout a profession spanning Serbia, Lithuania, Australia and now the United States.
But coach Williams admits the Suns bought greater than they bargained for after they signed the Melburnian.
“I just saw him as a pick-and-pop big (from watching him at San Antonio last season),” he mentioned.
“We didn’t see him as a big who would take advantage of mismatches in the paint the way that he has this year and we didn’t know he was that athletic.
“He’s completed across the basket a lot better than we thought.
“We were pleasantly surprised at what he can do outside of shooting the ball.”
