The New York Knicks are off to a 16-10 start. While that’s currently good for third in the Eastern Conference, it seems to most that they haven’t yet reached their ceiling. One of their biggest issues has been a lack of production off the bench. In recent outings, head coach Tom Thibodeau has gone just eight deep with Miles McBride, Cameron Payne, and Precious Achiuwa being the three coming off the bench.
As often has been the case in Thibodeau’s coaching career, his starters are playing heavy minutes. There may be a new bench piece for him to utilize though as guard Landry Shamet has recovered from injury and made his season debut with the Westchester Knicks of the G League on Monday.
Landry Shamet Makes Season Debut With Westchester Knicks
Landry Shamet Recovers From Injury, Debuts On Monday
In September, the Knicks signed the 27-year-old Shamet to an Exhibit 9 deal. While it’s a non-guaranteed pact, many believed Shamet would not only make the roster, but also be a part of the rotation. He averaged 22 minutes in his four preseason outings with New York.
Unfortunately in a preseason outing against the Charlotte Hornets on October 15, Shamet sustained a dislocated right shoulder. It was a tough break for Shamet and the Knicks so close to the start of the regular season. While New York waived Shamet after the injury, the expectation was that he would return once healthy.
The 6-foot-4 Shamet has recovered from his injury and made his season debut in the G League with the Westchester Knicks on Monday. In the Tip-Off Tournament, Westchester defeated the Greensboro Swarm by the score of 123-117. In the contest, Shamet played 20 minutes for his first action of the season. He scored 10 points (4-10 from the field, 2-8 from three-point range) to go along with three rebounds and an assist. The team was a +13 during his time on the court.
Career Thus Far In The NBA
In the 2018 NBA Draft, the Philadelphia 76ers selected Shamet with the 26th overall pick. He was dealt by Philadelphia at the 2019 trade deadline to the Los Angeles Clippers in a trade that brought Tobias Harris to the 76ers. Shamet was named to the All-Rookie Second Team in 2018-19.
Following his rookie year, Shamet spent a full season with the Clippers, one with the Brooklyn Nets, two with the Phoenix Suns, and last season with the Washington Wizards. In 46 games (five starts) with Washington, the shooting guard posted averages of 7.1 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 15.8 minutes. He shot 43.1% from the field, 33.8% from beyond the arc, and 82.6% from the free-throw line.
In six NBA seasons, Shamet has career averages of 8.7 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. His career shooting splits are .408/.384/.840.
Shamet Can Strengthen The Knicks Bench
Thus far, the Knicks reserves are averaging just 20.4 points per outing. That is dead last in the league, and 4.1 points less than the second-to-last Los Angeles Lakers. The majority of that production comes from McBride and Payne.
Perhaps after a few more games in the G League to shake off rust, New York can bring Shamet to the NBA roster. With him playing nearly half the game on average in the preseason, it seemed like Thibodeau was ramping him up for a role in the regular season before he got hurt.
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