LA Clippers: How Landry Shamet fit in
By Paul Headley
Acquired as part of the trade that sent Tobias Harris to Philadelphia, rookie Landry Shamet has already established himself as an important part of the LA Clippers’ future.
In his first 25 games with the LA Clippers, Landry Shamet averaged 10.9 points per game on 41.4 percent from the floor and an incredible 45 percent from 3.
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Shamet wasn’t particularly well-known to fans outside Philadelphia, perhaps considered a throw-in to the trade that sent forward Tobias Harris to the Sixers.
Shamet was so impressive in his rookie season, he received a call-up to Team USA’s select team. While Shamet ultimately declined the invitation, based on wanting to prepare his body for what’s expected to be a long season, his selection reflects of the respect his game has earned.
Shamet’s withdrawal lead to a fairly hilarious exchange with the RInger’s CEO Bill Simmons.
Simmons continued to embrace his old-man-shouts-at-cloud persona on Twitter, voicing his displeasure that a guy who just finished his rookie season would turn down the opportunity to play for Team USA:
“Hey Landry Shamet — do you want to spend a week working out with some of our best NBA players and best coaches?”
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) August 2, 2019
“No, 6 months ago I was a throw-in in the Harris trade and I’ve played a total of 6 playoff games — not sure this Team USA experience can help me. Thanks though.”
Unfazed by the snark, Shamet stepped up to the line and calmly dismantled a fairly baseless accusation:
https://twitter.com/landryshamet/status/1157521283438927872?s=20
Cold.
Shamet had a number of highlight games for the Clippers, but none more magical than the Clippers’ April 15 comeback in Oakland. The Clippers were down 35 points in the third quarter and came back to win, the largest deficit to be overcome in NBA playoff history.
While Lou Williams may have taken the bulk of the credit, It was Shamet who hit the dagger to seal the game:
While it might not take a lot to get Clippers’ owner Steve Ballmer hyped, it was still a pivotal moment in the young guard’s career.
Let’s have a closer look at Shamet’s (brief) time with the Clippers so far, analyse his main strengths and weaknesses, then have a look at how he might be utilized in a superstar-heavy new LA Clippers.