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Clips Nation
The average NBA fan most likely does not know the name Landry Shamet. Let this be a public service announcement.
Learn the name Landry Shamet.
Shamet was taken by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 26th pick of the first round out of Wichita State. Unlike most modern day NBA first round picks Shamet played three seasons with the Shockers in college. The 6’5 guard finished his collegiate career averaging 12.9 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists on .437% shooting from downtown.
The rookie then played 54 games with the 76ers before getting traded to the Los Angeles Clippers, as part of the Tobias Harris package. Shamet had limited opportunity in the somewhat stacked Philadelphia roster; only starting four total games and averaging 8.3 points, 1.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists on 20.5 minutes a contest.
Shamet played well in the role given to him in Philadelphia, but his game has gone to a whole new level since joining the Clippers.
Shamet has bumped all of his averages up, now putting in 12.4 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists a game in 28.9 minutes of play. He’s started eight out of the 10 games he’s appeared in for the Clippers, and the team has reaped the benefits of his strong play going 7-3 in the stretch.
Shamet’s value is most seen in his ability to shoot the basketball. He’s shooting .46% from behind the line since joining the Clippers: a rate that would have him at third in the league in the category. Shamet leads the Clippers in three pointers made, attempted and percentage. Shamet knows where his strengths are with 74% of his shots from the field coming from behind the arc.
The lanky two-way guard already has a Clippers rookie record to his name. Scoring 21 points against the New York Knicks last Sunday afternoon with his best performance for the Clippers so far. In doing so he broke the Clippers rookie record for made three pointers in a game, finishing with seven makes on 7-11 shooting.
“When you have nights like that, you don’t really think. It just kind of happens. It was free flowing and the ball was going in.” Shamet commented after the game.
Names like Luka Doncic, Trae Young and Jaren Jackson Jr. have dominated the narratives surrounding rookies this year. The 21 year old out of a mid major school might not be as flashy to talk about, but people absolutely need to put some respect on the name Landry Shamet.
Look for Shamet to continue to grow in confidence as the Clippers fight to hold onto their playoff spot in the tightly contested Western Conference.