Pacers fans will love Andrew Nembhard's comments about his contract extension

After a fantastic sophomore season that culminated in an incredible playoff run, Andrew Nembhard and the Indiana Pacers agreed to a long-term contract extension. This extension will keep Nembhard under contract through the 2027-28 season.

Extending Nembhard's contract was a big priority for the Pacers, and both sides seem happy to have made it official. The Pacers retain a player who reportedly received interest from other NBA teams, whereas Nembhard continues his playing career with the team that gave him a chance after drafting him in the second round in 2022.

Additionally, during this year's Media Day, the Canadian native spoke about his contract extension and what led to his decision, and Pacers fans will be happy with what he had to say.

Andrew Nembhard says he loves being in Indiana, was easy decision to extend contract

Nembhard kept it simple when talking about why he signed a contract extension to remain in Indiana, saying "I love being in Indy."

"I love being in Indy. I love being with this team. It wasn't really a hard decision at all," Nembhard said about his contract extension.

Given that the 24-year-old is a big part of the team's present, and likely their future, this is great for Pacers fans to hear.

Last season, Nembhard took a big step after his solid rookie season. While his regular season stats are not memorable (9.2 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game), it was what he did in the playoffs that cemented his status in Indiana.

During the Pacers' impressive playoff run, Nembhard averaged 14.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game. He also shot 56% from the field and 48.3% from the three-point line. These numbers are fantastic, but it does not tell the whole story.

In Games 3 and 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Pacers were tasked to take on the Boston Celtics, who were up 2-0 in the series, without star Tyrese Haliburton, who suffered an injury. For these two games, Nembhard was his replacement. This was a bit of a tryout for Nembhard as he had the chance to prove he could be a lead guard on an NBA team, and he did exactly that.

Despite losing both games, Nembhard showed the basketball world what he has to offer. In those games, he averaged 28 points, 5 rebounds, and 9.5 assists. Additionally, he shot 56.4% from the field and an astonishing 53.8% from beyond the arc.

Of course, this is a small sample size, and Nembhard would be highly unlikely to do this over the course of a full season, but it was a welcoming performance nonetheless.

In just his second season, the Gonzaga alum proved he can step up in big moments and deliver. And now that the team has him under contract for the next few seasons, it is exciting to think about how much he can grow and help the Pacers as they aim to win their first NBA championship in franchise history.