There was a time when Andrew Nembhard was the breakout star of the 2024-25 playoffs, dazzling his way to comparisons to Gabe Vincent (that used to be a good thing) and 2019 Toronto Raptors Fred Van Vleet.
When Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles tendon at the end of that run, falling as the Indiana Pacers did in a do-or-die Game 7, there were no silver linings, but there was the question of seeing Nembhard as the lead guard for a team that would have no expectations.
That did not materialize, but why should it have? After all, he shines brightest with the brightest lights, not with the most possessions.
As the year wore on, it became clear that Nembhard had not taken a leap with more responsibility, but maybe that was to be expected. The Pacers were already dead in the water. Their gap year turned into a one-year exploration of how bad an injury bug could really get.
That's not to say that Nembhard was bad, just that he wasn't what many fans had hoped for.
Within rebuilds and retools, there are young player who show their capabilities in larger roles than they would ever perform if their teams were good.
Eric Paschall for the Golden State Warriors, Jaylen Nowell for the Timberwolves, and even the once-exciting Lance Stephenson can be put in this box for the Pacers.
The only confirmation Indiana got this year regarding Nembhard is that he's not that.
And that's a great sign.
Bigger numbers for Nembhard would not change his role
When young players are asked to expand their scope, it is usually to see if they are capable of doing so. The league is littered with these stories. Luka Dončić became a de facto point guard because the Dallas Mavericks wanted him with the ball in his hands despite his forward-sized frame. Draymond Green is a power forward at 6'6 because he was asked to step in for David Lee.
Those moves changed those players' careers massively. However, this year's question was not about changing what Nembhard would be asked to do, but only about how far he could go in doing it.
Think of it this way: what skill could Nembhard have shown in a higher usage role that would change what he's seen as?
He's already a capable creator off the dribble (it's why his clips do so well on Twitter). He's a good enough playmaker and ball-handler to run backup point guard duties, which he has shared with TJ McConnell since he was drafted. He's a decent defensive player at his size and strength.
The search was for an A-plus-level skill, but that's not necessary for Nembhard to already be a starter-level player. It was only necessary to see if he was supposed to become a star.
Luckily for the Pacers, they don't need another star. Their approach to scoring and basketball as a whole comes at the expense of everyone's numbers for the greater good of the team. It's why finding a trade target would be nearly impossible to navigate.
For Nembhard to ascend to stardom, he would've had to shirk that ideology for a one-year mix of clips that ultimately would've resulted in nothing but empty stats.
This way, when it happens in the playoffs, it'll be right in time to make a difference – a real one this time.
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