It Took the Knicks Just Five Minutes to Answer a Major Rotation Question
The New York Knicks did not need an entire half, or even a full quarter, to reveal something important about their rotation.
Barely five minutes into their loss to the Golden State Warriors, head coach Mike Brown pulled Mikal Bridges and inserted Landry Shamet, who was appearing in his first game in nearly two months after suffering a right shoulder injury before Thanksgiving.
At the time, it may have looked routine. In reality, it was anything but.
That substitution sent a clear message, most notably to the front office: Shamet matters. A lot.
Why the Early Substitution Matters
Shamet’s immediate return to the floor checked several boxes at once.
It reinforced just how much value the Knicks are extracting from a minimum contract. It quietly warned players like Tyler Kolek and Jordan Clarkson that their minutes are not guaranteed. And perhaps most importantly, it provided insight into how Brown views his most dependable secondary pieces as the trade deadline approaches.
Shamet is not always going to be the first player off the bench. With Jalen Brunson sidelined by a sprained ankle, Deuce McBride moved into the starting lineup and will function as the de facto sixth man on most nights, unless Brown reshuffles things again.
Even so, trusting Shamet that quickly speaks volumes.
Shamet’s Skill Set Fits a Specific Need
Against Golden State, Shamet finished just 2-of-7 from the field. Every attempt came from three-point range. That alone matters.
High-volume shooting from beyond the arc is critical for Knicks lineups that do not feature one of their offensive anchors. Shamet provides that spacing without hesitation. His prior efficiency suggests the shots will fall often enough to justify the confidence.
Defensively, he has been just as important. Shamet is not a stopper, but he consistently competes. The Knicks have deployed him across multiple positions, and he has been one of their more reliable screen navigators, especially in guard-heavy matchups.
That combination is rare at his price point.
A Positive Sign That Comes With a Warning
Having a minimum-salary player capable of defending, shooting, and staying engaged is a luxury. For the Knicks, it has become closer to a necessity.
When neither Clarkson nor Kolek is providing steady playmaking or scoring, Shamet’s shooting becomes essential. At 6-foot-5, his size also fills a gap on a roster that currently lacks playable wings behind the starters.
As he continues to regain rhythm, his role is likely to grow. That growth will almost certainly come at the expense of Kolek and Clarkson. Provided Shamet continues to knock down shots, that outcome is becoming increasingly likely.
And that is where the concern creeps in.
What This Means for the Trade Deadline
The Knicks are fortunate to have Shamet. They also should not be relying on him this heavily.
His importance underscores a larger issue. New York still needs another reliable rotation piece. Counting on Shamet to shoulder this much responsibility carries risk, not only because of his recent shoulder issues, but because he was never meant to be this central.
The fact that it took only five minutes for Brown to show otherwise is both reassuring and troubling. It confirms Shamet’s value while simultaneously highlighting how thin the margin is.
In the short term, it is a silver lining. In the long term, it is a problem the Knicks still need to solve.
