Hawks Center Jock Landale Out for Start of Playoffs

Ankle injury sidelines key player as Hawks face Knicks in postseason

Apr. 17, 2026 at 3:20am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented basketball court scene with overlapping shapes and planes in navy, red, and yellow, conceptually representing the challenges the Hawks face without their starting center.The Hawks' playoff hopes face a major obstacle with the injury to starting center Jock Landale, forcing the team to rely on its reserve big men.Atlanta Today

The Atlanta Hawks announced that starting center Jock Landale will miss at least the first two weeks of the NBA playoffs due to a sprained right ankle. Landale's absence is a significant blow as the Hawks prepare to face the New York Knicks in the opening round of the postseason.

Why it matters

Landale has been a key contributor for the Hawks this season, providing interior defense and rebounding to complement the team's perimeter scoring. His injury leaves a void in the middle that the Hawks will need to address if they hope to advance past the Knicks in the playoffs.

The details

Landale suffered the ankle sprain during the Hawks' final regular season game. An MRI confirmed the injury, and the team announced he will be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks. In the meantime, the Hawks will likely turn to reserve centers Onyeka Okongwu and Frank Kaminsky to fill Landale's minutes.

  • Landale was injured in the Hawks' final regular season game on April 12, 2026.
  • The Hawks announced Landale will miss at least the first two weeks of the playoffs on April 17, 2026.

The players

Jock Landale

The starting center for the Atlanta Hawks who suffered a sprained right ankle that will sideline him to start the NBA playoffs.

Onyeka Okongwu

A reserve center for the Atlanta Hawks who is expected to see increased playing time with Landale out.

Frank Kaminsky

Another reserve center for the Atlanta Hawks who will likely be called upon to fill the void left by Landale's injury.

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What they’re saying

“Losing Jock for the start of the playoffs is a tough blow, but we have confidence in our other bigs to step up in his absence.”

— Nate McMillan, Head Coach, Atlanta Hawks

What’s next

The Hawks will re-evaluate Landale's status in approximately two weeks to determine if he can return for later rounds of the playoffs.

The takeaway

The Hawks' playoff hopes have taken a hit with the loss of starting center Jock Landale, putting added pressure on their reserve big men to step up and fill the void in the middle against the Knicks.