The Athletic: Why the Knicks’ Landry Shamet might be the best vet-minimum signing in the NBA

NBA News From The Athletic The Athletic: Why the Knicks’ Landry Shamet might be the best vet-minimum signing in the NBA Landry Shamet, the pro's pro, is key to New York reaching its goals. James L. Edwards III, The Athletic February 18, 2026 3:27 PM Landry Shamet has been one of the Knicks’ most important players off the bench this season. Editor’s Note: Read more NBA coverage from The Athletic here. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA or its teams.  *** Trying to convince the Knicks organization that he should be the next head coach in a championship-or-bust season, Mike Brown went through his interview process continuously bringing up a player no longer on the roster. The veteran coach studied in preparation for his big meetings. He watched film. He called around. In doing all of that, Brown regularly found himself fixated on Landry Shamet, an NBA journeyman who was an end-of-bench player a season ago for the Knicks. “I watched the tape before I got the job,” Brown said of Shamet, who was on a one-year deal last year. “I was a fan of his. I saw the things he did out on the floor last year, and I was like, ‘Wow. This guy can be really good on both ends of the floor.’ That was something I came in saying during my interview process.” Whether Brown was prophetic or, rightfully, taking partial credit in the moment for the success of a player who was proving him right, Shamet has been a key piece to New York’s journey to the top third of the Eastern Conference. The 28-year-old shooting guard is converting on the 3-ball at a career-best clip (42 percent) and no one would argue with you if you called him the second- or third-best defender on the roster. Shamet’s on-ball defense and ability to navigate screens has, along with his shooting, gotten him on the court for many of the Knicks’ most critical moments so far this season. All of that considered, a strong case could be made that Shamet has been the league’s best veteran-minimum signing this year. He’s averaging nearly 10 points per game in 22 minutes and providing legitimate defense for a championship-contending team. Players like the Raptors’ Sandro Mamukelashvili, the Suns’ Collin Gillespie and the Celtics’ Neemias Queta (who isn’t on a classic minimum since he was signed using Non-Bird Rights and got an extra year) are also in the conversation. New York is plus-6.6 points per possession with Shamet on the court — which, based on the above quartet of players, is second to Boston being plus-10.8 points per possession with Queta on the court. The caveat in favor of Shamet is that the Knicks’ guard depth is/has been deeper than the Celtics’ center depth for most of the season. Shamet carries, essentially, a neutral on-off split, meaning there isn’t a decline in team production whether Shamet is on the floor or not. In short: Shamet, as a bench player, does his job. Shamet signed a non-guaranteed deal in the offseason, and it was believed that he would be fighting for a roster spot with veterans Malcolm Brogdon and Garrison Matthews. Based on what Brown later admitted, it sounds like there was never a competition. Brogdon ended up retiring during the preseason and the team parted ways with Matthews. Brown was set on Shamet not just making the roster, but contributing in a way that most players in his position don’t. “Working with Mike has been great,” said Shamet earlier this month after a 23-point performance in a win over the Lakers. “He’s a great communicator. Coming in and taking a job is hard for anybody. Honestly, early on, I was just worried about making the team and doing my best to help us win. But as we’ve spent more time together, I’m grateful for him and just want to continue to do what I can on a night-to-night basis to help us win games.” Whenever Shamet’s name is brought up to his teammates or someone who has worked alongside him in the past, the same words are always uttered: “True professional.” He’s praised for his approach to games and practices. He’s applauded for how he carries himself when no one is looking. He’s one of those players who comes early and stays late. Shamet dislocated his shoulder last season and was able to come back in the season. He did the same this year and returned in about a month’s time. He bypassed surgery multiple times to be part of what the Knicks are building. There’s a commitment level in all of these instances that doesn’t go unnoticed. A “true professional” is what Shamet has been and continues to be, but shouldn’t that be the bare minimum for all players? “It should be,” Knicks All-Star Jalen Brunson said. “It’s not as common (as you would think). It’s more than showing up every day. If you’re doing the bare minimum, you’re not a true professional.” Brunson is one of these people who can’t mention Shamet without characterizing him with those same two words. He compliments his preparedness regularly. He’s appreciative of the energy Shamet brings. Brunson doesn’t see the fact that Shamet has played for six teams in eight years as a negative. He goes the other way with it. “He’s also a big asset,” Brunson said. “He does a lot for the teams he’s on, and other teams see that. It’s who he has been. I’ve seen that from afar playing against him, and it’s even better when you’re playing with him.” Josh Hart echoes Brunson’s sentiments about “true professionals” being a rarer breed in today’s NBA. He, too, has bounced around the league a bit, having played for four teams in nine seasons. The influx of young talent and teams not taking winning seriously has created environments that blur the lines of what it takes to be a pro. Hart sees Shamet as what is good about the NBA. “People come in and they have to learn to be professionals,” Hart said. “Depending on where you get drafted to, it can take two, three or four years, especially if you don’t have a good vet. With how things are shaking out now, there’s a lot less vets on teams to hold guys accountable. It’s (rarer) now, and (Shamet) is a great example of that.” Shamet’s play has saved the Knicks’ free agency this past offseason from being a dud. The biggest signing of the summer, Guerschon Yabusele, is already on another team. Jordan Clarkson went from out of the rotation to only playing because of injuries. New York is getting near starter-level value from the non-guaranteed deal that Shamet signed. It’s hard to see how the Knicks reach their goal of the NBA Finals without Shamet playing a big role. He’s been big for their spacing and has been sturdy in a sometimes flimsy team defense. Shamet’s been that important to their success. The wandering veteran appears to have found a home. Shamet is relied on heavily by his head coach and beloved by some of the most rabid fans in the NBA, all while having the fourth-lowest salary on the roster. The All-Stars make the NBA money, but it’s the players like Shamet, the pro’s pro, that keep the league honest. “When you think of a (true professional), you think on time. When you tell him something, he always looks you in the eye, always trying to correct things. Always playing hard,” Brown said. “Never making excuses. Sacrificing for his teammates. Always thinking team first. He can play two minutes, come out and be OK. Or he can play 30 minutes in a row, come out and be OK. The maintenance aspect isn’t there. He’s always connected to the group, trying to help others be connected and his competitive spirit is off the charts. He believes in his teammates and the process. He wants to be held accountable. “All those things bode well for having someone like (Shamet) on your team.” *** James L. Edwards III is a staff writer for The Athletic covering the New York Knicks. Previously, he covered the Detroit Pistons at The Athletic for seven seasons and, before that, was a reporter for the Lansing State Journal, where he covered Michigan State and high school sports. Follow James L. on Twitter @JLEdwardsIII Related The Athletic: How do we feel about the Knicks going into final stretch of season? To examine the Knicks' final stretch of the season, James L. Edwards III and Fred Katz discussed the franchise’s last 20 games. Best game to watch for all 30 teams as season resumes With 36 games in Week 18, the playoff chase could come more into view as the stretch run gets rolling. 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