SAN FRANCISCO — Landry Shamet’s Return
Landry Shamet made a comeback after being sidelined for 25 games, contributing six points in 16 minutes during the Knicks’ 126-113 defeat against the Warriors on Thursday night.
This marked Shamet’s first game back since his shoulder dislocation on November 22. He managed to hit 2-of-7 shots, all from beyond the arc, and recorded a steal, but didn’t register any rebounds or assists.
“He did a great job. Landry is a hard worker,” Knicks coach Mike Brown expressed. “He was really pushing himself. For him, getting back on the court is huge. He had a solid rhythm leading up to this game, which, you know, was promising. He’s been away for quite some time, so we’re going to take it slow with him as he gets back into the swing of things.”
Shamet has unfortunately dislocated his shoulder twice in the last two seasons, leading to questions about the necessity of surgery. Nonetheless, he opted against the surgery and made a return.
Brown has frequently highlighted the significance of Shamet’s perimeter defense, especially since the Knicks had entered the game ranked 17th defensively.
“Both [Shamet] and [McBride] are our top on-ball defenders. Landry brings toughness and intelligence to the court,” Brown said. “Defensively, he strives for efficiency and on the offense, he applies pressure on the opposing defense.”
Meanwhile, Mitchell Robinson’s playing restrictions remain a focus as he isn’t allowed to participate in back-to-back games.
Notably, the Knicks center was sidelined Thursday night for stress management related to his previously injured left ankle. Coach Brown had mentioned that Robinson’s performance against the Kings on Wednesday could indicate a potential for back-to-back play in the Bay Area.
“Ultimately, it’s up to the medical team to make that call,” Brown noted. “His minutes have been increasing, and in their opinion, he’s also been able to contribute more during practices.”
Despite this optimism, Robinson, who hasn’t played in both games of back-to-back sets since 2023, only managed to clock 19 minutes in Sacramento before facing Golden State.
