Ryan Nembhard’s Rising NBA Journey

Ryan Nembhard has showcased his skills at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, averaging 11.3 points and 6.7 assists over three games.

In January 2021, a highly anticipated matchup occurred between Montverde Academy and IMG Academy, featuring a host of future NBA talent. Montverde boasted players like Jalen Duren, Dariq Whitehead, and Caleb Houstan, while IMG had Jarace Walker, Jett Howard, and Moussa Diabaté on their roster. Montverde coach Kevin Boyle emphasized Nembhard’s importance, noting, “The best guy in the gym is Ryan Nembhard. And he’s the only one not ranked.”

Nembhard proved his worth during the game, contributing 10 points, five rebounds, and four assists, helping Montverde secure a narrow 55-51 victory. After two years at Creighton and another two at Gonzaga, where he led the nation in assists, Nembhard established himself as a reliable player, boasting a remarkable assist-to-turnover ratio during his senior year.

Despite not being a first-round draft pick due to his height—standing at 5-feet-11, 176 pounds—Nembhard signed a two-way contract with the Dallas Mavericks as an undrafted free agent in June. He recognizes his size challenges but is determined to capitalize on his current opportunity, stating, “At the end of the day, you just have to roll the ball out and play hoops.”

Nembhard seeks inspiration from successful smaller guards like Chris Paul and Kyle Lowry while aiming to emulate his older brother, Andrew Nembhard, who plays for the Indiana Pacers. Boyle, who coached both brothers, continues to advocate for Ryan, just as he did for Andrew before the 2022 NBA Draft.

In his Summer League debut against the Los Angeles Lakers, Nembhard impressed with 21 points and five assists. However, he struggled in his second game against the San Antonio Spurs but bounced back in another matchup with the Charlotte Hornets, recording 11 points and eight assists. Mavericks assistant coach Josh Broghamer praised Nembhard’s ability to understand the game.

Nembhard faces significant obstacles in the NBA due to his size, especially with Kyrie Irving recovering from an ACL injury. The Mavericks brought in D’Angelo Russell as a starting point guard, but Nembhard believes in his potential within the team, stating that the Mavericks showed the most interest during the pre-draft process.

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Written by Christian Clark, an NBA reporter for The Athletic based in Dallas.