This week, ESPN is unveiling its top 100 players of the 2025 NBA season, and multiple Pacers debuted in the initial release. The first portion of the list, rankings 100-50, ranked Andrew Nembhard at 81 and Aaron Nesmith at 65. Neither player made last year’s top 100 rankings, and the respect given to each is a welcome shift following the Pacers’ Finals appearance. Even still, these two players were disrespected as they were ranked below underperformers and role players.
The Pacers are finally getting their flowers
No matter the ranking, it is significant that these two Pacers made the top 100 list. On the one hand, with the inclusion of both Nembhard and Nesmith, the entire Pacers starting line-up from 2024-25 would be on the top 100 list.
Myles Turner checked in at 57, Pascal Siakam checked in at 22 (50-11 was released early Wednesday), and Haliburton was debated to be in the range of the top 10 -20, though he was omitted from the list due to injury.
At 81, Nembhard was lauded for his postseason performances and “relentless” defense. They note that he has potential to expand his role this upcoming season, something Pacers fans are already counting on.
Nesmith, ranked at 65, is labeled “one of the breakout stars of the postseason” and a “two-way force,” something that is likely to continue this season. The signature stat given for Nesmith was that he had the best single postseason 3-point percentage in NBA history at 49.2%.
These two guys deserve national attention, and their placement on this list is a significant step forward in keeping Indy on the national radar.
Respect for Indy is still hesitant
Even with the positive jump from “unranked” to 81 and 65, Nembhard and Nesmith still were overlooked for some players that seemed to be ranked for their name recognition, potential, or team placement rather than their on-court performance. Nembhard was most notably ranked behind Brandon Ingram (77) and Jabari Smith (74).
Ingram played 18 games last season and has not been a needle-mover for a few seasons. Smith, for his part, very much deserves a quality placement on this list. Unfortunately, it was highlighted that he was most significant coming off their bench and missed 25 games last season. Nembhard – lauded all offseason for his tenacious defense against teams’ top players – deserves a higher ranking than an All-Star question mark and a sixth man.
Nesmith (and, in turn, Nembhard), too, was outranked by many players who deserved their placement on this list. A few rankings were head-turning, though, specifically Christian Braun (62), Zion Williamson (61), and Cooper Flagg (52).
Braun deserves to be on this list. Even still, it matters that his offensive output was that of a role player who benefited heavily from MVP Nikola Jokic. Zion Williamson has yet to play a full season, and his hype is still from limited sample sizes and potential, not sustained success. Finally, Flagg is going to be a problem for the NBA. The touted prospect is going to have a fantastic career, but it seems disrespectful to numbers 100-53 on this list to include a player that has never played an NBA minute – especially the two Pacers who took their team to a finals Game 7.
All in all, Nesmith and Nembhard are fantastic, and the national media is beginning to notice, but the respect still comes with a caveat.