In a disappointing turn of events for Indiana Pacers fans, the Dallas Mavericks just landed the main draft prospect they didn't know they wanted: Gonzaga guard Ryan Nembhard, the brother of Andrew Nembhard (h/t Michael Scotto of HoopsHype). Despite having two second-round picks (and drafting two guards in Kam Jones and Taelon Peter), the Pacers did not opt for the family reunion.
The Pacers drafted the older Nembhard with the 31st pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, and he has turned into one of the most important players on the team. Pairing him alongside his brother would have been a great story for Pacers fans to follow. Ultimately, it did not come to fruition.
While it is fair to assume the newest Maverick will probably not make the same impact in the league as his brother has, he still has the potential to be a solid player in the NBA, and he will be a name worth monitoring throughout his career for Pacers fans.
Ryan Nembhard has the potential to make an impact in the league
There is a reason he didn't go in the first round of the draft, but Nembhard still possesses a lot of talent. He is a pure point guard with high basketball IQ and great playmaking, and he was the NCAA assists leader in 2025. Additionally, he became a much more efficient shooter and versatile scorer throughout his collegiate days, culminating in a 40.4% mark from the three-point line in his final year at Gonzaga (though he only took 2.7 three-point field goal attempts per game).
On the flip side, Nembhard has been listed at 5'11" or 6'0" tall and is strictly a point guard, unlike his brother, who is 6'4" and can play both guard positions with ease. Furthermore, he does not provide much defensive value due to his size.
In Yahoo!'s 2025 NBA Draft Big Board, they compared Nembhard to Phoenix Suns free agent Tyus Jones, who has carved out a career as a solid point guard. While Jones is far from an All-Star, he is still a dependable point guard, and if Nembhard can develop into something similar, he could make it in the NBA. Additionally, he will have a unique opportunity to make a name for himself as Kyrie Irving is expected to miss the start of next season due to an ACL injury.
For Indiana specifically, there was some potential benefit to drafting the 22-year-old. With Tyrese Haliburton expected to be out for the entirety of next season due to his Achilles injury, the Pacers will need some reinforcements at point guard. They will likely move the older Nembhard to the point guard spot full-time and continue to rely on T.J. McConnell as their backup. However, adding depth will be key for Indiana this offseason, especially at point guard, which would have made the younger Nembhard a potentially solid acquisition for the team.
Regardless, there is a lot to be excited about for Pacers fans as this draft may have introduced a new sibling rivalry to the NBA, which is always a storyline worth following. It remains to be seen just how good Nembhard can be in the league, but as it stands, Pacers fans now have a couple of more games to circle on their calendar.