Landry Shamet was expected to add depth to the Knicks this season, but he finally joined the team's bench and put on a uniform after recovering from a bad shoulder injury he sustained late in the preseason.
Shamet was officially signed and played in Monday's 139-125 victory over the Raptors at the Garden. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said with less than 90 seconds left on Monday that the six-year NBA veteran was not expected to need a further warm-up period after playing a few games in Westchester and the G League. He said he checked in.
“Not much. It was more about confirming his position in terms of letting him play some games,” Thibodeau said before the win. “There's a big difference between playing in a game and practicing.
“So it was part of the rehab to get that in and make sure everything was OK and see how he felt the next day. But we think he had a great training camp. Unfortunately, he got injured in the last game.
Shamet made his only shot in his debut.
“I felt really good today. I was munching on bits for a while,” Shamet said. “It felt really good to get back in the building, get ready, be with the guys, make sure we had the game plan, just be teammates. It felt really good to finally be out there and play in the first game. I'm just grateful that I felt like I was able to witness the decision being made.”
Shamet, 27, was with the Knicks on a non-guaranteed contract in training camp, but when he dislocated his shoulder in a game against the Knicks on October 15, it was clear he would be on the roster and likely to be in Thibodeau's rotation. He was trying to get a high position. Hornets.
Thibodeau relies primarily on its starting five, with Mikal Bridges leading the league with 38.5 minutes per game, while Shamet primarily consists of Miles McBride, Cam Payne and Precious Achiuwa. We believe that Jericho Sims will also take on duties depending on the situation, joining the bench unit that will be replaced.
Thibodeau doesn't think it will take long for Shamet to get up to speed with the Knicks. The Knicks have won nine of their past 11 games, improving their season record to 19-10.
Not only did Shamet spend camp with the team, he was also a teammate with Bridges and Payne on the Suns during the 2021-22 season.
“I think that's a big deal,” Thibodeau said. “I think Cam and Mikal, along with Landry, were part of the Phoenix team that made the playoffs, so I think that’s a plus as well.”
The 6-foot-4 Shamet, who signed a one-year deal to replace waived wing Matt Ryan on the Knicks' roster, avoided surgery for a chance to play again this season. The Wichita State product gave the Knicks another outside weapon, averaging 8.7 points on 38.4 percent shooting from 3-point range in 348 career games with the Sixers, Clippers, Nets, Suns and Wizards.
In four preseason games with the Knicks, Shamet scored 10.8 points in 22 minutes per game.
For now, Shamet is just happy to be able to contribute to the team.
“I am a strong believer that things and situations happen for a reason. The reason may not be understandable at the moment, but there is an upside, a silver lining to every situation.” He talked about the injury. “So it was another test of that belief, it really tested that belief for me and it was good practice on that front.
“Rehab is always a roller coaster, there are good days and bad days, but all things considered, nine weeks removed from that incident, it feels really good to be back in this position with this group and really I am grateful and happy.”
