Inside NY Knicks star Landry Shamet’s secret second job working at the US Open

New York Knicks shooting guard Landry Shamet may be one of the team’s most exciting players, but when he’s not on the court, the 29-year-old is indulging in a creative passion that has taken him all the way to the US Open.

The NBA star was seen in the photo pit on Tuesday night at the tennis tournament, where he photographed Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro’s quarterfinal match.

Landry wore a branded black shirt and green pants paired with a backwards cap for the event, and was immersed in the game as he snapped photos on behalf of the US Tennis Association (USTA).

Fans couldn’t get enough of Landry’s unexpected side hustle, with one writing on Reddit: “What can’t this man do!” while another added: “Oh dope. Championship summer tour keeps on moving!”, referring to the Knicks’ defeat of the San Antonio Spurs in June that won them the NBA Championship.

Landry’s side hustle

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This is Landry’s third year shooting at the US Open, after taking on an unpaid opportunity in 2024 and 2025.

“I’ve always been interested in photography, and this is something I’ve been pursuing, and they’ve been super generous in letting me come on board and get to shoot for the week,” he told Posting and Toasting in 2025.

“There’s a lot of crossover in NBA photography and a lot of other sports, so Jenn with USTA, she and I knew of each other, and our players’ union connected us.”

The basketballer later told AP that he was initially hesitant to enter the world of photography. “My friend was like, ‘You should get a camera.’ I’m like, ‘I’m not going to use a camera. Who has cameras anymore? You just use your phone. Who needs a camera?'” he recalled.

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“I think since I picked the camera up, I don’t really foresee a day where I put it down,” Landry continued.

“Even when we go on the road, I always have a camera with me, just to have. So whether it’s just like as a hobby, walking around, shooting stuff that I like to maybe print out and put on the wall in my house or doing things like this, it’ll always be there.”

An eager student

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Landry gained the tick of approval from another USTA photographer, Jen Pottheiser, who told AP that his height and dedication to the craft were perfect traits. “His action photos are really tremendous,” she said. “He really is a student of photography here. He’s asking amazing questions. He’s frankly a great teammate. I’m sure any New Yorker knows that.”

Landry joined the NBA in 2018 and has played for six teams throughout his basketball career: the Philadelphia 76ers, the Los Angeles Clippers, the Brooklyn Nets, the Phoenix Suns, the Washington Wizards, and the Knicks. He joined the NYC team in 2024 and went on to sign a $24 million four-year contract with them in 2026.