Landry Shamet was anticipated so as to add to the Knicks’ depth this season, and he lastly joined the workforce’s bench and was in uniform after recuperating from a grotesque shoulder harm suffered late within the preseason.
Shamet was formally signed and lively for Monday’s 139-125 win over the Raptors on the Backyard. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau stated the six-year NBA veteran wasn’t anticipated to wish an extra ramp-up interval after enjoying just a few video games within the G League with Westchester, although he checked in with lower than 90 seconds left Monday.
“Not really. That was more just to see where he was in terms of — getting him some games,” Thibodeau stated earlier than the win. “Being in video games is quite a bit totally different than being in apply.
“So just getting that, to make sure everything is good, to see how he felt the next day, that was part of the rehab. But we thought he had a great training camp. Unfortunately, he got hurt in that last game.”
Shamet made his solely shot in his debut.
“I was so amped up today, man, I’ve been chomping at the bit for a while,” Shamet stated. “It just felt good to be back in the building, suit it up, be with the guys, lock in on a game plan, and be a teammate. I’m just grateful that I felt good to get in the game there at the end and kind of just see the first one go in.”
The 27-year-old Shamet was with the Knicks on a non-guaranteed deal in coaching camp, however he clearly was about to assert a roster spot — and a possible place in Thibodeau’s rotation — when he suffered a dislocated shoulder Oct. 15 towards the Hornets.
Thibodeau largely has leaned on his beginning 5 — with Mikal Bridges main the league with 38.5 minutes performed per recreation — however Shamet figures to hitch a bench unit primarily consisting of Miles McBride, Cam Payne and Treasured Achiuwa, with Jericho Sims additionally seeing state of affairs responsibility.
Thibodeau doesn’t imagine it should take Shamet lengthy to rise up to hurry with the Knicks, who’ve received 9 of their previous 11 video games to enhance to 19-10 on the season.
Along with spending camp with the squad, Shamet additionally was a teammate alongside Bridges and Payne with the Suns in 2021-22.
“I think that’s a big thing,” Thibodeau stated. “I think that Cam and Mikal, along with Landry, they were part of a Phoenix team that went deep in the playoffs. So I think that’s a plus, as well.”
The 6-foot-4 Shamet, who was signed to a one-year deal to switch waived wing Matt Ryan on the Knicks roster, bypassed surgical procedure for an opportunity to play once more this season. The Wichita State product provides the Knicks one other exterior weapon, capturing 38.4 p.c from 3-point vary and averaging 8.7 factors over 348 profession video games with the Sixers, Clippers, Nets, Suns and Wizards.
In 4 preseason appearances with the Knicks, Shamet registered 10.8 factors in 22 minutes per recreation.
Now Shamet is simply completely satisfied he can contribute to the workforce.
“I’m a big believer that things and circumstances happen for a reason, and you might not understand why in the moment, but there’s a benefit, a silver lining in every situation,” Shamet stated about his harm. “So it was one other take a look at of that perception. It actually tried me on that perception, and it was good apply on that entrance.
“Rehab is always a roller coaster, good days, bad days, but all things considered we’re nine weeks removed from that happening and I feel really good and really grateful and happy to be back in this position with this group.”
