"Adam Silver must veto this" - NBA fans erupt over Landry Shamet's Knicks comeback following injury setbacks
Weeks before this season began, Landry Shamet ran into a setback. He'd dislocated his shoulder in a preseason game, and it ended up costing him a spot on the New York Knicks roster. It turns out, however, that Shamet is set to join the surging Knicks after all.
According to NBA insider Shams Charania, the Knicks will be signing the 27-year-old Shamet, who appears to have successfully recuperated from his preseason injury.
But there's another wrinkle to Shamet's NBA story this season: Some fans aren't exactly welcoming him to the Knicks with open arms.
"Adam Silver MUST Veto this," said one online user on X.
"Knicks cursed by the Landry curse now," said another.
"Quentin Grimes 10× better than that old head," said another user, referring to the 24-year-old guard who played for New York from 2021 to 2024.
Other fans, meanwhile, are happy to hear this news:
"Ring us already," an optimistic fan proclaimed.
"Good get him in the rotation, we need his shooting he's the perfect back up SG/SF for this team," said one netizen.
"Much respect for them actually sticking with him. He’s a good depth piece for New York," commented another netizen.
What is the 'Landry Shamet curse'?
Notably, the fan reaction to the Shamet signing includes some concerns about a supposed "curse" that he has brought to teams that he's played for.
Some observers have noticed how ball clubs that signed Shamet ran into the same fate during the postseason:
Supposedly, every team that has started their season with Shamet on their roster went on to lose in Game 7 of the conference semifinals.
Fans have cited the 2018-2019 Philadelphia 76ers, 2019-2020 Los Angeles Clippers, 2020-2021 Brooklyn Nets, and the 2021-2022 Phoenix Suns as proof of the "Landry Shamet curse."
It's worth noting that there's been one season in Shamet's NBA career when the "curse" didn't strike. At the onset of the 2023-2024 season, the Washington Wizards had Shamet in their lineup, yet they didn't suffer a second-round Game 7 loss. This, of course, was due to the fact that the Wizards didn't even qualify for the playoffs that season.
Still, the New York Knicks are counting on Landry Shamet to bolster their firepower from deep and provide depth at the wing position. The Knicks currently have the third-best record in the Eastern Conference and, for obvious reasons, their fanbase will pay close attention to their playoff fate this season.