Dallas Mavericks rookie Ryan Nembhard does not need the spotlight. He just needs the ball and an open teammate. In Friday night’s 138-105 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers at American Airlines Center, Nembhard started at point guard and finished with 8 points on 3-of-7 shooting, 4 rebounds, and 9 assists — turning the ball over just once in 27 minutes.
The stat line was quietly efficient, which is exactly the kind of performance that has come to define his role with the Mavericks — resulting in his two-way contract being converted to a standard NBA deal. He kept the focus where he typically does — on the team and the opportunity ahead.
“Thank you. I’m just excited to be with these guys full time and excited for the opportunity,” Nembhard said. “I’m excited for whatever the future may hold. I’m just looking forward to continuing to compete with these guys and get better.”
From Two-Way to Starting Point Guard
Nembhard’s rise within the Dallas organization has been steady and deliberate. He came in on a two-way contract at the start of the season and has grown into a starting role, taking on more responsibility as the Mavericks have leaned on their young core down the stretch. Across 46 games this season, he is averaging 6.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game on 42.4% shooting — numbers that undersell how much he has stabilized Dallas’s offense since stepping into a larger role.
Jason Kidd, a Hall of Fame point guard himself, said the biggest area of growth he has seen from Nembhard has been his feel for the game’s pace.
“Ryan understanding the pace that we have to play with him on the floor. Being able to take care of the ball and just being consistent with minutes,” Kidd said. “The more minutes he gets, the better he’ll get.”
That growth has shown up in the details. Against Cleveland, Nembhard committed just one turnover despite running the offense for the better part of 27 minutes against one of the Eastern Conference’s best defenses. Kidd praised the way he managed the game despite the lopsided result.
“Again, being able to find the guys. He understands how to do that, and he did that well tonight,” Kidd said.
Ryan Nembhard Embraces an Unselfish Approach
Nembhard said his pass-first mentality traces back long before he ever stepped on an NBA floor. His father coached him growing up, and the lessons stuck.
“I think it started when I was a kid. My dad was my coach and he always taught us to make the right play and be unselfish,” Nembhard said. “So it started there. I just want to get other guys the ball and get guys touches in good areas where they can score. I try to keep the ball moving and keep our offense less stagnant.”
That approach has made him one of the most well-regarded young point guards in the league and a player his teammates consistently go out of their way to praise. Cooper Flagg, who has played alongside Nembhard since both arrived together at the start of the season, described the impact in straightforward terms.
“I love playing with Ryan. I’ve loved playing with Ryan ever since we got here. We came in together — he was on the two-way at first,” Flagg said. “He’s just an unselfish guy and plays the game the right way. Pass-first, looking to spread the ball around the court and find the open man. He just gives the ball a lot of energy. When he’s out there, I feel like everybody’s playing with a little more pep in their step. He just puts a lot of energy into the game.”
Flagg pointed to a specific third-quarter pick-and-roll on the left wing — with James Harden defending — as a snapshot of how Nembhard’s feel for the game creates advantages for those around him.
“Ryan knows his role so well and how he’s carved it out with our team. He’s just a floor general. That’s what he did for years at Gonzaga and Creighton. He knows how to find mismatches and gets us organized,” Flagg said. “On that play specifically he saw something he wanted us to attack and was just getting us set up.”
Leading NBA Rookies in Assists Per Game
Nembhard, averaging 4.7 assists, leads all rookies in assists per game this season, a fact he shrugged off when asked about All-Rookie Team consideration.
“I haven’t put too much thought into it, honestly. It’d be nice, but I don’t know if I’m really in that conversation,” he said. “I’m just excited to be out there playing with these guys and excited for the squad.”
He also addressed what Cleveland does so well that makes them difficult to contain — and the answer sounded a lot like a self-description.
“They’ve got some really good players who can get downhill and make good reads. They just make the right play — the good pass, the next pass, the easy pass. They’ve got some talented guys,” Nembhard said.
Keys to the Rematch
Nembhard was direct about what Dallas needs to clean up before Sunday’s rematch at Rocket Arena, focusing on the defensive breakdowns that allowed Cleveland to generate open 3-point looks all night.
“Defensively, the low man has to be better, taking away the rolls to the rim. That was a problem tonight,” he said. “Rebounding, turnovers, and being a little less stagnant on offense.”
His brother, Andrew Nembhard of the Indiana Pacers, has been a resource throughout the adjustment to the league’s schedule and its physical demands.
“Yeah, for sure. And the guys here have been great too — being consistent with lifts and treatment and making sure you get your recovery. My brother’s been helpful, and everyone in the organization has been helpful,” Nembhard said.
Away from the basketball, the rookie admitted there is one ongoing debate in the Dallas locker room that has not been settled.
“Me and Coop go back and forth about Duke and Gonzaga. There’s a little bit of that going on,” he said. “We’ve got a bunch of Duke guys, which I don’t love, but it’s all good.”
The Dallas Mavericks and Cleveland Cavaliers tip off again Sunday at Rocket Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. CT.
Latest Dallas Mavericks News & NBA Rumors
- NBA News: Cooper Flagg Says He’s ‘Getting His Pop Back’ After Encouraging Performance Against Cleveland Cavaliers
- NBA News: ‘You Keep Firing’: Khris Middleton Erupts For 35 Points Off The Bench, Dallas Mavericks End Eight-Game Skid In Memphis
- NBA News: ‘It Was A Mistake’: Mark Cuban Regrets Hiring Nico Harrison As Dallas Mavericks GM
- NBA News: ‘We Just Couldn’t Make The Plays Down The Stretch’: Dallas Mavericks Fall To Atlanta Hawks 124-112, Extending Losing Streak To Eight
- NBA News: ‘We Haven’t Played A Ton Of Teams Like That’: Cooper Flagg Sees Toronto Raptors’ Aggressive Defense As Valuable Learning Experience
