There were several analysts and fans alike that scratched their heads in confusement when the 76ers selected Landry Shamet out of Wichita State with the 26th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. Shamet was projected to go in the early to mid section of the second round by most mock drafts. When the Sixers took him with the 26th pick, many considered it a reach, especially when Robert Williams, a big man who was projected to go in the lottery and ended up slipping on draft night, was still on the board when the Sixers had to make their selection. However, the Sixers knew exactly what kind of player they were drafting.
Through 3 years at Wichita State, Shamet averaged 12.9 points, 3 rebounds and 4.1 assists while shooting 48% from the field and nearly 44% from deep. His best year was his junior year, where he put up 14.9 points per game at a 44.7% clip from downtown. Even though he did have a solid college career, many still had doubts.
One of the concerns that scouts had about Shamet, the 6’5 guard, was his athleticism and how it would affect his ability to defend and score in isolation, particularly off the dribble. However, in the 3 preseason games we’ve seen him in action, he has shown to be a willing defender despite his athletic limitations. While scoring off the dribble is something Shamet will need to continue to develop, we’ve seen glimpses of the work that he’s put in this summer, evident by a few pull up jumpers we’ve seen him take.
Not only has Shamet proved some people wrong about his lack of athleticism impacting his ability to play defense, but he’s proved all of the scouts right in terms of his offensive prowess. In his third preseason game against the Dallas Mavericks, Shamet scored 18 points to go along with 3 rebounds and 1 assist. He shot 6 of 11 from the field and 3 of 7 from deep. He showcased his ability to knock down jumpers off the catch and put the ball on the floor. Check out his highlights from the clip below:
The 26th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft @landryshamet drops in 18 points in Shanghai!#NBAChinaGames | #HereTheyCome https://t.co/ofipogjaZK
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) October 5, 2018
So far, Shamet has seriously surprised some people with the positive play he’s provided in the absence of Wilson Chandler. Even though it is still a long shot for Shamet to become a star in this league, his ability to knock down jumpers and handle the ball will make him a very serviceable and coveted player in the league for years to come. If he keeps this type of play up, he might even be able to crack Brett Brown’s regular rotation.
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
