New York Knicks on the court.
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A NBA insider is predicting that the New York Knicks will bring back a familiar player before the 2025-26 seasons starts.
The New York Knicks are coming up on their 2025-26 season, and it’s an exciting time for the franchise. The Big Apple is booming with New York Knicks excitement, since this team has been strong for a few years now. This season, they have a new head coach in Mike Brown, so expectations are high that Brown will be able to take them all the way, which is something Tom Thibodeau wasn’t able to do.
The offseason bring difficult choices, and that includes parting with players. Of course, the New York Knicks are also retaining players, as they did by locking in Mikal Bridges with a $150 million deal.
But, now, the Knicks are rounding out their lineup for the 2025-26 run, and they might bring back a familiar face. While it’s great to get fresh blood in the mix, there’s also something to be said for bringing back a player who already has chemistry with the team.
New York Knicks Could Bring Back Veteran
Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks and Landry Shamet.
Getty Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks and Landry Shamet #44 of the New York Knicks look on against the Boston Celtics.
With the NBA season just a few months away, the New York Knicks are still looking to fill two major roster spots. One of those positions will likely be taken by a rookie, and the other could go to a veteran. SNY’s Ian Begley thinks the Knicks could use that veteran spot to bring back former Knicks guard Landry Shamet.
During an appearance on The Putback, Begley said, “I’m talking about Shamet, because I think there is still mutual interest there. If I’m guessing, I’m guessing it ends up with Shamet getting one of those spots.”
Begley also said that there was lot of support within the Knicks organization to bring Shamet back and that the team liked how he handed his shoulder injury last season and came back from it. Shamet is a career 38.5% shooter, so they could certainly do worse than having him back in the fold.
Why the Move Could Work for the Knicks
So, does bringing back Shamet make sense for the New York Knicks? I think does, because he has already proven himself as a solid shooter and defender. He’s also very tall at 6’4″, which doesn’t hurt. He’ll be part of the depth chart, and the Knicks need solid depth at guard.
In a Tuesday, August 12, piece for The Daily Knicks, Atticus O’Brien-Pappalardo says that he also believes the move could make sense.
“If the Knicks and Shamet do reach a deal, he would find himself in a familiar spot in more ways than one,” he states in the piece. “There is the familiarity for ownership, the city, and most of the roster, for starters. That said, there is also the familiarity of being outside of the rotation looking in, as was the case for Shamet last year.”
He adds, “While Shamet does provide an additional layer of guard depth, he is less of an initiator and more of an off-ball guard. It would add more pressure on Deuce McBride to slide into the backup ball-handler role, which Cam Payne held last season.”
There’s a lot to be said both the Knicks and Shamet apparently having interest in bringing him back to the team. This looks like a reunion that could work.