The Dallas Mavericks are feeling confident that they uncovered a gem in Ryan Nembhard, the undrafted rookie guard out of Gonzaga, whose Summer League performance turned heads and sparked optimism within the organization.
After signing Nembhard to a two-way contract, the Mavs watched him immediately show poise, vision, and leadership during his brief but impactful stint in Las Vegas.
Across three games, the player averaged 11.7 points and 6.7 assists, consistently running the offense with maturity and control beyond his years.
His ability to shift between orchestrating sets and playing off the ball caught the attention of the coaching staff – and likely a few front offices around the league.
“You guys saw it,” Summer League head coach Josh Broghamer said after Nembhard was shut down to preserve his health.
“Ryan didn’t have to prove anything else. Everyone knows we got a steal in him. He can play on the ball, off the ball, he’s going to be a hard-nosed defender – and we’re very excited about him going forward.”
Nembhard’s on-court composure was particularly impressive for someone facing the pressure of carving out a roster spot as an undrafted rookie.
Whether navigating pick-and-rolls, finding shooters in stride, or applying pressure on the defensive end, the younger brother of Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard looked the part of a polished floor general.
“I just came in with a chip on my shoulder,” Nembhard said after his final game. “I knew I belonged. I wanted to show I can control the pace, get guys involved, and compete on defense. That’s who I am.”
Though his sample size was limited, Dallas saw enough to validate their belief that he can contribute in meaningful minutes if needed during the regular season. His combination of court awareness, defensive grit, and winning instincts fits well within the Mavericks’ culture.
“He’s smart, tough, and unselfish,” Broghamer added. “That’s what we want in a guard. You can tell he’s been well-coached and knows how to lead. He’s only going to get better with reps.”
With two-way players now eligible for up to 50 games in the NBA, the Mavericks may have found themselves a legitimate rotation piece — or even a long-term contributor – in Nembhard.
His next challenge will be to carry this momentum into training camp and continue proving that his undrafted status says far less about his future than his game does.
Southwest Notes: Thompson, Nembhard, Fears, Queen, Morant https://t.co/7WOd8DWS21 pic.twitter.com/IOb730qlPn
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) July 20, 2025
