Pacers guard named team's biggest X-Factor for 2024-25 season

Last week, Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes released an article naming every NBA team's biggest X-Factor for the 2024-25 season. In his article, Hughes mentioned numerous names for contending teams, such as big man Xavier Tillman for the Boston Celtics and the recently-acquired Klay Thompson for the Dallas Mavericks.

When talking about who the Indiana Pacers' biggest X-Factor is, there are many different names that fit the mold. Most notably, names like Aaron Nesmith, Obi Toppin, and newly-acquired James Wiseman come to mind. However, Hughes played it relatively safe and named Andrew Nembhard as the team's biggest X-Factor for next season.

Bleacher Report names Andrew Nembhard as the Pacers' Biggest X-Factor for next season

As Hughes puts it, an X-Factor is someone who has "offered mixed-bag results in the past" and "could determine playoff fates, team identities and even overall franchise trajectories." By these standards, Nembhard is a solid pick.

Last season was Nembhard's second in the NBA. On the year, he averaged 9.2 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. Although it is a small sample, these numbers were career lows for the Canadian native. However, his shooting percentages (49.8 FG% and 35.7 3FG%) were better than in his rookie year.

The story of Nembhard so far is his impressive playoff run last season. During the Pacers' Eastern Conference Finals run, the 24-year-old averaged 14.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game. Additionally, he shot 56.1% from the field and 48.1% from the three-point line.

Nembhard played well throughout the entire playoffs, but he took it an extra level in the conference finals. Against the Celtics, he averaged 21 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 7.8 assists while shooting 54.1% from the floor and 47.6% from beyond the arc. This includes a 32-point, nine-assist performance in Game 3.

The young guard's emergence led to him landing a multi-year contract extension with the Pacers. It is fair to assume Nembhard will assume a larger role with the team next season. If he can even slightly resemble the same player he was in the postseason, he will provide a huge boost to Indiana's championship hopes.