A key piece for the Knicks has returned to the rotation.
Sharpshooting guard Landry Shamet is back in action after fully recovering from a dislocated shoulder sustained during the preseason.
Shamet re-signed with the Knicks on a one-year deal Sunday, clearing the path for his return in Monday’s matchup against the Toronto Raptors.
His comeback is the result of a calculated move by head coach Tom Thibodeau and the Knicks front office.
Initially signed as a seasoned, battle-tested veteran on a discounted minimum deal, Shamet was waived after his injury, but they kept him on their radar and ensured he could rehab in-house by selecting him with a top pick in the 2024 NBA G-League Draft.
Following three consecutive double-digit scoring games with the Westchester Knicks, the organization made their move, waiving end-of-rotation forward Matt Ryan to create enough salary cap space beneath the second apron to re-sign Shamet.
Thibodeau confirmed there’s no need for a ramp-up period, thanks to Shamet’s recent game action in Westchester.
“That was more just to see where he was in terms of — getting him some games — [because] being in games is a lot different than being in practice,” Thibodeau said before Monday’s tipoff. “So just getting that — to make sure everything is good, to see how he felt the next day — that was part of the rehab.”
Thibodeau suggested he might expand his typically short rotation to integrate Shamet. He has mainly played Jericho Sims and Precious Achiuwa off the bench along with reserve guards Miles McBride and Cameron Payne.
“We could. We’re gonna see how it unfolds,” he said. “He just got here today.”
Shamet’s return helps address a glaring need for the Knicks: bench production. New York’s second unit ranks dead last in points per game by a 4.5-point margin.
Known for his sharpshooting and defensive hustle, Shamet brings valuable playoff experience, having played on three deep postseason teams: Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving’s 2021 Brooklyn Nets, the 2018-2020 Los Angeles Clippers, and the 2021-2023 Phoenix Suns.
He left a strong impression during the preseason, scoring 16 points on 4-of-8 shooting from three in the exhibition opener and adding another 13 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves before his injury.
“Just good, solid veteran leadership. Play multiple positions. We thought he had a great training camp. Unfortunately, he got hurt in that last game,” Thibodeau said. “He’s been around, he’s played in big games. He knows how to play off people extremely well. The three-point shooting, he can handle the ball, play off the ball.”
Shamet isn’t just a standalone addition; he fits seamlessly into the Knicks’ roster dynamics.
He was teammates with Payne and Mikal Bridges during the 2021-22 season in Phoenix and was part of Thibodeau’s three-guard bench lineup alongside McBride and Payne before his preseason injury.
“The versatility with Cam and Deuce — I think they fit well together. He plays fast. I think that helps,” Thibodeau said. “I think that’s a big thing. Cam and Mikal, along with Landry, were part of a Phoenix team that went deep in the playoffs. So I think that’s a plus as well.”
Shamet’s return adds yet another three-point threat to a Knicks team already competing for one of the league’s top offenses. He is the eighth Knicks player to shoot 40 percent or better from downtown in a season during his career.
Shamet has averaged 8.7 points per game over a six-year career.
