Flash back to November.
Landry Shamet was coming off a rocky first year with the Knicks, when a dislocated shoulder derailed much of his season and he was largely buried in Tom Thibodeau’s rotation. This was just 12 games into what would eventually become a championship Knicks season, when Shamet drilled six 3-pointers and erupted for a career-high 36 points in a Knicks win over the Heat.
This was the first sign that he would soon become a key bench piece on a title team.
“This is where I wanted to be,” Shamet told The Post at the time. “With the year we had last year, this group of guys, this locker room, this city, these fans, all of it, I only wanted to be here, to be honest. I’m glad it worked out.”
As free agency officially began Tuesday — with teams officially able to negotiate with other free agents at 6 p.m. (they were able to negotiate with their own free agents immediately after the Finals), the futures of Mitchell Robinson and Jordan Clarkson were not yet defined. The Knicks had already moved to bring back Shamet, Jose Alvarado and Mohamed Diawara, solidifying a few of their most important bench contributors from their championship run.
Entering free agency, Shamet and Robinson were the two biggest question marks surrounding the Knicks. Owner James Dolan’s on-the-record desire to stay under the second apron meant it would be nearly impossible to bring back both and fulfill his wishes.
Shamet was likely to be the cheaper option, and the Knicks quickly secured his future with what they intend to be a four-year, $24 million deal.
Now, going back to Nov. 12. Across the next seven-plus months, Shamet’s entire career trajectory would change.
Before that breakout against the Heat, he was barely hanging on in the league. He signed a nonguaranteed, veteran minimum deal to return for a second year with the Knicks. It wasn’t even guaranteed he would make the roster out of training camp — Malcolm Brogdon’s unexpected retirement paved the way for his spot.
And just three games later, Shamet dislocated his shoulder, the same one on his right, shooting side, as the year prior in a game against the Magic. He had a decision: Undergo surgery, which would have ended his season, or try to rehab it and return later in the year. The latter option required trust in the Knicks, who could have simply cut him and his nonguaranteed contract and signed someone who could come in and play right away.
Shamet and the Knicks agreed that he’d rehab it with the goal of returning later in the year, a prescient sign of faith between the two sides.
It wasn’t until Jan. 15 that he returned. But across the next 36 games, he averaged 9.3 points on 38.1 percent shooting from 3-point range, cementing himself as an important part of the rotation.
But his shooting waned down the stretch of the postseason, and he went just 2-for-8 across the first five games of the first round of the playoffs. He had effectively been replaced in coach Mike Brown’s rotation by Jose Alvarado. All of a sudden, Shamet was on the outside looking in.
No problem. He didn’t complain or waver. He just waited for another opportunity.
Across the final 14 postseason games, he shot 50.9 percent from deep. His game-tying trey down the stretch of the epic comeback in Game 1 of the conference finals will live in Knicks lore.
And, now, he returns to the team he won his first championship with. He wanted to return to the Knicks even after a rough first season. He maintained that belief during an injury that threw his future in doubt.
Even now, he probably could have gotten more money elsewhere.
But the Knicks — and their faith in him — rejuvenated his career. He played a pivotal role in their title.
“Knicks fans are a specific species of human that should be studied,” Shamet said. “They’re crazy. They’re crazy. … Everywhere you walk in the city, that’s what you hear. The buzz is unbelievable. You could try and explain what’s going on in New York right now for Knicks fans but good luck. It’s different. Knicks fans are different.”
This relationship itself is different. And this marriage is set to continue.
