The Dallas Mavericks are converting undrafted rookie guard Ryan Nembhard from a two-way contract to a standard two-year NBA deal that includes a team option for the 2026-27 season, sources told DallasHoopsJournal.com.
The move comes after the Mavericks waived veteran guard Tyus Jones following Friday’s 124-105 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, as DallasHoopsJournal.com previously reported. Dallas intends to waive Jones before the end of Sunday to ensure he retains playoff eligibility with his next team. The roster move created the space necessary to elevate Nembhard to a full NBA contract.
Ryan Nembhard Earns Standard NBA Deal After Going Undrafted
Nembhard, 22, signed with Dallas as an undrafted free agent following the 2025 NBA Draft out of Gonzaga, where he spent his senior season after previously playing at Creighton. The Aurora, Ontario native attended Montverde Academy in Florida before embarking on a college career that established him as one of the more polished point guards available in the 2025 class. His feel for the game, playmaking instincts and composure under pressure were enough to earn him a two-way slot with the Mavericks heading into his rookie season.
He has appeared in 38 games at the NBA level this season, averaging 6.7 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 4.9 assistsin 18.8 minutes per game while shooting 42.9% from the field and 37.9% from three. The assist numbers have been particularly noteworthy for a team that has cycled through significant point guard turnover throughout an injury-riddled season.
Throughout the process, Nembhard remained confident in the results to come if he took care of business on the court. Ultimately, that paid off.
“I’ll let my agents and everybody figure that out,” Nembhard said. “Obviously that’s there, and obviously I’m on a two-way. But at the end of the day, if I go on the court and handle business and do my job at a high level, then that will take care of itself when the time comes. So I’m not too concerned about that. I’m just trying to win games and enjoy hooping.”
Kidd has been among the most vocal in the building about what Nembhard brings to the table, and his praise has been consistent across multiple stretches of the season.
“He knows who he is and that’s kind of refreshing, that a kid understands who he is and plays the game at the level that he plays,” Kidd said. “I think for him to have 10 assists as an undrafted rookie, that’s special, especially for this group.”
That self-awareness has translated into a steadying effect on the Dallas offense whenever Nembhard is running the show, something Kidd has pointed to repeatedly.
“He is steady,” Kidd said. “Understands how to play the game. Ryan is a point guard who sets the table. In the games that we have put him in a different rotation spot, he has had success finding guys. Even when we talk about misses, we’re getting great looks with him running the show. He is steady, gets us organized, and our pace does not drop off when he is at the point guard.”
Kidd also highlighted Nembhard’s college pedigree as a foundation for what he believes will be a long NBA career.
“He led the country in assists in college, so I think you can lean into that,” Kidd said. “I think his teammates lean into that, but I think it is nice to have someone that is thinking about setting the table. I think he’ll benefit from that in this league. Because of his passing, he’ll have the opportunity to score, too, because everybody knows he is looking for his teammates.”
Ryan Nembhard’s Development on Two Fronts
Nembhard also spent time with the Texas Legends, the Mavericks’ G League affiliate, where he was approaching the 50-game two-way limit with 44 appearances. In his five most recent games with the Legends, he averaged 22.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 10.6 assists per game across 36.8 minutes, shooting 43.1% from the field, production that reflected a player whose game had grown considerably since the start of the season.
Texas Legends head coach Max Hooper noted the refinement in Nembhard’s game over his time with the affiliate.
“Ryan Nembhard has gotten better at his pick-and-roll reads, slowing down and finding his passing angles,” Hooper said. “He’s learning how to control the tempo while being aggressive when the game calls for it. Ryan’s not just learning plays, he’s learning how to lead a group. That’s what will separate him in the long run.”
Nembhard described his own development process as one built on daily discipline and trust in the system around him.
“It’s really been a collective effort,” Nembhard said. “Every day I’m with different coaches or teammates, but everyone’s locked in on helping guys improve. We’ve got a great development system, and every single day is about getting better.”
He has also been deliberate about identifying the specific areas that will define his growth as an NBA player.
“Finishing at the rim and working on my floater are big focuses,” Nembhard said. “I like my midrange game, but I also want to keep improving my three-point shot, that’s always valuable. And honestly, defense is one of the most important areas I’m keying in on right now.”
The adjustment to the NBA game itself has been its own education, one Nembhard described in terms of pace and spatial awareness.
“Spacing and pace are huge,” Nembhard said. “The size of players makes a big difference, too. There are certain things you can get off in some moments, but there’s also a lot you can add to your game with all that spacing. The more I learn, the better I get as I go.”
A Focus on Becoming Aggressive to Score
One of the more notable developments in Nembhard’s rookie season has been the shift in his own mentality. Earlier in the season, he acknowledged stretches where he felt he was holding back, and the message he received from coaches and teammates helped him find a more confident footing.
Nembhard described early stretches where he was being too passive and said the confidence his coaches and teammates have shown in him, and their consistent message that he needs to be more aggressive and assertive, has made it easier for him to just be himself and go out there and play his game.
The results have backed that shift up. Kidd offered pointed praise after one of Nembhard’s standout performances earlier this season.
“I thought he was great the whole game,” Kidd said. “He’s been great since we put him in the starting lineup.”
Nembhard himself described the approach in straightforward terms.
“I think more will be asked of me from a scoring standpoint here,” Nembhard said. “Whether I need to score or pass just depends on the defense and the flow of the game that night. I’m just excited to play basketball and let the game dictate things.”
Filling the Void Left by Tyus Jones
The Jones buyout creates an immediate need the Nembhard conversion directly addresses. The veteran guard brought experience and calm to a shorthanded backcourt, and his departure following Friday’s loss to Memphis leaves the Mavericks without one of their most reliable ball-handlers heading into a difficult stretch of the schedule.
Jones is expected to clear waivers and sign with a contender. Dallas intends to complete the waiver process before the end of Sunday, preserving his playoff eligibility for whatever team he joins next.
For Nembhard, the path forward is now unobstructed. The two-way conversion removes the 50-game appearance restriction and gives him full NBA roster status for the remainder of the season. With Flagg sidelined by a left midfoot sprain and the Mavericks navigating a stretch that includes Sunday’s home game against Oklahoma City and a five-game road trip through Charlotte, Orlando, Boston, Toronto and Atlanta, his availability and readiness have never been more relevant.
Earlier this season, Nembhard described his mindset heading into whatever comes next with the same simplicity that has characterized his approach his whole career.
“Just getting better every day,” Nembhard said. “Understanding the NBA game, learning the pace and spacing, and trusting that everything else will take care of itself.”
Dallas Mavericks Roster Implications and the Road Ahead
The contract structure signals organizational intent. A two-year deal with a team option for 2026-27 gives Dallas cost-controlled flexibility while providing Nembhard a genuine path to establishing himself on an NBA roster beyond this season. For an undrafted player less than a year removed from college, the conversion is a meaningful step toward proving his place at the highest level.
Nembhard is the younger brother of Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard, making them one of the few Canadian sibling duos currently active in the NBA. The family basketball pedigree is evident in Ryan’s game, which is built around decision-making and court vision rather than raw athleticism, a profile that fits naturally into the void Jones leaves behind.
The Mavericks currently sit at 21-38 and host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday.
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