Knicks' Landry Shamet is all about the team, and he's a big part of it

Asked Sunday about the Knicks’ 13-game postseason winning streak, Landry Shamet essentially dismissed the question.

“The games in the past don't matter,’’ he said. “Not 13 games ago, not one game ago. It’s one game at a time, and that's the only way through this thing. So we're worried about Game 3, and [the series is] 0-0 in our mind in that respect.’’

In reality, however, the Knicks will bring a 2-0 series lead over the San Antonio Spurs into Monday night's game at Madison Square Garden.

From a team perspective, Shamet says all the right things during interviews and stays on message: For him, it’s about the team and the task at hand. Nothing else matters. Especially not his own contributions.

Shamet has shot 27-for-48 (56.3%) from three-point range in the playoffs, including 12-for-13 in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cavaliers, and has hit at least three three-pointers in six of his last seven games. He was asked if this is the best he's ever played in his eight pro seasons.

“I don't know,’’ he said. “I'll let you guys figure that out,’’

Shamet, 29, has been around the NBA block a few times; the Knicks are his sixth team.  He signed with them as a free agent before the 2024-25 season. After he dislocated his shoulder in the preseason, the Knicks waived him, but they selected him in the G League draft and  re-signed him  to a one-year deal that December.

After they brought him back this season on another one-year deal for the NBA minimum salary, he averaged 9.3 points per game coming off the bench during the regular season, which ought to earn him a multiyear deal from someone next season. In this postseason, he’s averaging  6.6 points in 15.8 minutes per game, and those numbers have been even more impressive  recently.

Shamet has been part of an excellent bench, and he’s done everything the Knicks have asked. Before the NBA Finals began, coach Mike Brown recalled that before Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, when OG Anunoby returned to the lineup after missing the last two games of the second-round series against Philadelphia with a hamstring injury, he told Shamet he “probably’’ wouldn’t play.

“And he says, "Don't worry about it, I'll be ready,’ ’’ Brown said.

Shamet ended up playing 17:22 in Game 1 and scored nine huge points on 3-for-3 shooting from behind the arc, and the Knicks rallied from 22 points down to win in overtime. In the six games against the Cavaliers and the Spurs, Shamet has averaged 10.8 points in 23.7 minutes per game and shot 17-for-25 (68.0%) from three-point range. In the two Finals games, he has played 33:16  and 30:09, scored 13 points in each, and shot 6-for-13 (46.1%) from three-point range.

“It's no surprise to us about whenever any of us step up,’’ Deuce McBride said. “But especially Landry, for a guy that's dealt with so much throughout his career, and to be here . . .  it's a testament to how he works, how he trusts in himself and his confidence.’’

After Game 2 on Friday, Brown said, “His whole career he’s been a journeyman, but he probably deserved more of an opportunity, because what he does out on the floor on both ends is very, very hard to find in this league. Especially at his size [6-5], with his mental toughness and his physical toughness.’’

On Sunday, Shamet was asked if he’s taken a minute during this postseason run to wrap his head around being in the position he’s in now as the Knicks attempt to win their first NBA championship since 1973.

“No. And that's OK,’’ he said. “I've had moments, but actively, I don't want to do that until it's all said and done. I want to be here, be present, soak this up, compete, stay locked in and just try to help my team. Getting four wins is the goal. Right now, we’ve got to get another one.’’

By Colin Stephenson

colin.stephenson@newsday.comColinSNewsday

Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.