After an impressive breakout season last year, culminating in the best run of his NBA career during the conference finals against the Boston Celtics, many had high hopes for Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard to further solidify himself as a building block for the team's future.
In the summer, Nembhard and the Pacers agreed to a three-year, $58.7 million contract extension that will keep him under contract through the 2027-28 season. Shortly after his new deal was announced, however, many noted that Nembhard's contract was tradeable if the Pacers decided to go this route, especially with rival teams reportedly pursuing him. As it stands, though, a trade involving the soon-to-be 25-year-old now seems unlikely.
Despite missing a significant amount of time so far this season due to a knee injury, Nembhard has proven his worth to the team. His return from injury helped the Pacers turn things around, and he has played a crucial role since getting back on the court.
Nembhard's importance to the team has not gone unnoticed in a general sense, either. Recently, ESPN's Tim McMahon spoke about the Canadian native and why he is crucial to the Pacers' success. In doing so, he likened Nembhard to an NBA champion and Olympic gold medalist--Derrick White of the Boston Celtics.
Tim McMahon compares Andrew Nembhard to Derrick White
McMahon compared Nembhard to White because they play similar roles on their respective teams. As McMahon puts it, neither player is putting up MVP-caliber numbers, but they are both important to their teams nonetheless.
"One thing we've learned about the Pacers this season, and you knew it going in but especially this season, is just how critical Andrew Nembhard is to what they got going on. They are 17-8 when they have Andrew Nembhard this year. That means they are 5-10 without him and he's not putting up crazy numbers during this win streak. He had 19 [against the Cleveland Cavaliers]," McMahon said.
"He kind of gives me a little bit of Derrick White vibes, where it's not like he just is gonna put up massive eye-popping numbers, but he does a lot of things well and is kind of just a connective tissue for the entire group."
On paper, McMahon's comparison makes a lot of sense. Both are likely the fourth-best player on their team, but neither team is truly complete in their absence. Furthermore, they are both comparable from a playstyle perspective as well.
Nembhard and White are both combo guards who make their presence felt on both sides of the court. They are perfect complementary pieces, but neither of them is likely to be the best player on their team. There are differences in their games, of course, but McMahon's general comparison makes a lot of sense.
While White is a borderline All-Star, Nembhard is still looking to make a name for himself in the public eye. Regardless, Pacers fans know just how important he is to the team. Now in his third season with the team, Nembhard has gradually improved each year and is looking to build off his impressive playoff debut.
Alongside Tyrese Haliburton, Nembhard makes up half of one of the most exciting backcourts in the league. Just how far he can help Indiana in their quest to bring an NBA title to the franchise, much like White did in Boston last year, remains to be seen.