Landry Shamet’s shoulder injury sours Knicks' 111-105 preseason victory over Hornets

NEW YORK — Landry Shamet’s shoulder popped out of its socket.

It’s the dark takeaway from the Knicks’ 111-105 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday, a game head coach Tom Thibodeau opted to sit his starting five to rest ahead of Friday’s preseason finale in Washington, D.C.

Without Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns, Thibodeau started his second unit — Shamet, Cameron Payne, Miles McBride, Precious Achiuwa and Jericho Sims — then evaluated end-of-the-bench players like rookies Pacome Dadiet, Tyler Kolek and Ariel Hukporti.

“It’s a good opportunity to get a look at some of those guys,” the coach said ahead of tipoff. “And give the bench extended minutes. It’s good from that point.”

Achiuwa led the way with 20 points and 16 rebounds, and McBride added 18 points and five assists.

Everything seemed to be on track in the competitive matchup, but the mood shifted late in the third quarter when Hornets forward Moussa Diabate attacked the rim in transition, and Shamet, swiping at the ball, instantly grabbed his right shoulder and fell to the court in visible pain.

Shamet, with the help of trainers, left the court for the locker room and did not return for the rest of the game.

The injury is particularly unfortunate for two reasons.

Shamet, whose career has been riddled with injuries, was signed to an Exhibit 9 contract — providing just $15,000 in case of injury. His preseason injury casts doubt on whether he’ll make New York’s final regular-season roster.

And the Knicks, hard capped at $189 million, are desperately seeking backup depth on their bench, and Shamet’s contract — worth $2.6 million if he made the roster — was a cost-effective option for a playoff-tested, three-and-D wing who boasts a career 38.4% from 3-point range.

If Shamet’s shoulder injury requires surgery, as Julius Randle’s shoulder did last season, the Knicks will be forced to decide whether to carry an injured player or dive into a shallow free-agent market.

Who will step up?

With the starting five sidelined, one Knicks player seized his moment: rookie Pacome Dadiet.

Selected 25th overall in the 2024 NBA draft, Dadiet made his Knicks debut after missing the front half of the preseason with a sprained finger.

The rookie shined, scoring all 16 of his points in the first half while showcasing his movement off the ball, hitting three of his six attempts from beyond the arc. His performance comes as a relief after a shaky Summer League, and with the uncertainty surrounding Shamet’s injury, the rookie may see an expanded role.

Veteran T.J. Warren is also emerging as an option.

After being plagued by a foot injury, Warren told The New York Daily News that he’s fully recovered. Now, he has a chance to solidify a spot on a playoff-bound roster. Against Charlotte, Warren added 11 points, seven rebounds and two assists in 18 minutes on efficient 3-of-5 shooting from the field

As the Knicks prepare for their preseason finale, the focus now shifts to whether they can rely on their bench to fill the gap left by Shamet’s unfortunate injury. Thibodeau, however, said the starters still have work to do.

“I think the shot creation’s been good,” he said ahead of tipoff. “We haven’t knocked shots down. You’re striving to be a 48-minute team. So I think they’re still building rhythm and just keep getting better every day.”