The New York Knicks received some welcome news this weekend as they agreed to a deal to bring back veteran guard Landry Shamet. The 25-year-old sharpshooting specialist had originally signed with the team in September but was waived shortly after when he suffered a dislocated shoulder during a preseason game.
At the time, Shamet was viewed as a virtual lock to make the Knicks’ regular season roster before the untimely injury sidelined him indefinitely. Now, after making a full recovery, he will rejoin a Knicks squad looking to bolster its backcourt depth and outside shooting.
Shamet’s Road to Recovery
Over the past week, Shamet has been suiting up for the Westchester Knicks, New York’s G League affiliate, to test out his shoulder and shake off the rust. In those appearances, he averaged a solid 10.8 points per game, showing flashes of the quick release and long-range marksmanship that made him such an intriguing offseason acquisition for the Knicks.
Shamet’s agent, George Langberg, confirmed to ESPN that his client has agreed to rejoin the Knicks now that he is back to full health. The 6’4″ combo guard will provide the team with another floor spacer and secondary ball-handler who can play both on and off the ball.
Ideal Fit in Thibodeau’s System
Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau spoke glowingly of Shamet multiple times during training camp, noting how his skill set and basketball IQ would mesh well with New York’s other offseason additions and allow him to seamlessly integrate himself into the rotation.
“He’s a gifted shooter with a quick release and he’s shown he can play off of other guys, but he’s also a guy who can put it on the floor and make a play,” Thibodeau said of Shamet in October. “I like his size and versatility in our backcourt.”
Instant Chemistry with Ex-Teammates
In particular, Thibodeau pointed to Shamet’s prior experience playing alongside offseason pickups Mikal Bridges and Cameron Payne as a major selling point that should allow the trio to hit the ground running as they reunite in the Big Apple.
Shamet and Bridges were teammates on the Phoenix Suns during the 2021-22 season, while Shamet and Payne shared the backcourt for parts of two seasons with the Suns from 2021-2023. That built-in chemistry and familiarity could pay early dividends for a Knicks team looking to hit its stride as the season nears the halfway mark.
Providing Immediate Value
For his career, the 26-year-old Shamet has averaged 10.8 points and 2.2 assists in 22.6 minutes per game while knocking down an impressive 38.4% of his three-point attempts. He will give Thibodeau another reliable outside threat to help space the floor for the likes of Bridges, RJ Barrett and Julius Randle.
While not the most explosive athlete or dynamic creator, Shamet is a low-maintenance role player who understands how to operate within the flow of an offense, rarely venturing outside his comfort zone. He’s a career 39.7% catch-and-shoot three-point marksman who thrives running off of screens, spotting up in the corners and taking advantage of kick-out passes from driving teammates.
- Ideal complement to shot creators like Bridges and Barrett
- Proven three-point marksman who can score in bunches
- Low-usage role player who doesn’t need the ball to be effective
With starting point guard Jalen Brunson currently day-to-day with a hip injury, Shamet provides the Knicks with some desperately needed depth and shot-making in the backcourt. His presence will be a welcome sight for a New York second unit that has struggled to generate consistent offense at times this season.
A Tactical Move by the Front Office
Bringing back Shamet is a smart, low-cost move by the Knicks front office to add a reliable rotation player as the playoff race begins to heat up in the Eastern Conference. His specific set of skills directly addresses a need on the roster, and his going a week unsigned after being waived allowed New York to scoop him up without having to make a corresponding move.
“It was a calculated decision to bring him back right before the calendar flips to 2025,” said an anonymous Knicks staffer. “He fits in on the court and in the locker room, so it was a no-brainer once he proved his shoulder was right.”
Now back to full strength, Shamet will look to pick up where he left off before his injury and carve out a consistent role in Thibodeau’s notorious tight rotation. If he can recapture his shooting stroke and provide stable minutes off the bench, he could emerge as an under-the-radar X-factor for a Knicks squad with aspirations of making noise in the postseason.
