Ryan Nembhard is quickly becoming a household name among NBA fans, particularly those following the Dallas Mavericks. What makes his story so compelling is not just his rapid rise from an undrafted rookie to a rotation player, but the way he has defied expectations at every turn. Standing at just 5’11”, Nembhard has proven that size is no barrier when you possess elite basketball IQ, relentless work ethic, and a chip on your shoulder that drives you to prove doubters wrong.
His journey from Gonzaga to the NBA, his historic rookie performances, and his growing role with the Mavericks have made him one of the most intriguing young point guards in the league. Add to that the unique family connection of playing alongside his older brother Andrew on the Canadian national team, and you have a story that resonates far beyond the basketball court.
The Mavericks’ decision to convert his two-way contract to a multi-year deal in March 2026 was a testament to his impact. Coach Jason Kidd praised him, saying, Ryan’s done everything we’ve asked him to do. He helped us win some games, steadied the ship as a rookie undrafted. For him to be able to turn that into a contract, he’s done all the work. Teammate Max Christie added, Obviously, he deserves it. He played well for us earlier this year, I’m super happy that he got that deal.
Ryan Nembhard’s Brother: The Nembhard Family Connection
Ryan Nembhard’s older brother, Andrew Nembhard, is also an NBA player who suits up for the Indiana Pacers. The two brothers, who grew up in Aurora, Ontario, have a deep basketball bond that dates back to their childhood, when they started playing together with a Little Tikes net in their family living room. Their father, Claude Nembhard, is the CEO of the Ontario Basketball Association, and their mother, Mary, was the grounding voice of calm amid the chaos of raising two elite athletes.
Andrew is three years older than Ryan and was drafted by the Pacers with the 31st overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Both brothers attended the same high school, Montverde Academy in Florida, and both played for Gonzaga during their college careers, Ryan followed in Andrew’s footsteps, playing for the Bulldogs as well. The brothers share a similar basketball journey: both began their college careers elsewhere before transferring to Gonzaga for their final two seasons. Andrew started at Florida, while Ryan began at Creighton, where he earned Big East Freshman of the Year honors in 2022.
Andrew has carved out a significant role with the Pacers, helping lead them to Game 7 of the NBA Finals in 2025. He is known as a polished two-way combo guard with good size and feel for the game. Ryan, however, wasn’t blessed with the same physical gifts. Standing four inches shorter than his brother, Ryan has had to rely even more on his basketball IQ and playmaking ability to overcome height concerns.
Despite their differences, both brothers share a tremendous understanding of how to play the game correctly. Ryan has often looked up to Andrew, watching closely and following his lead. Those 2-on-1 sessions with their father in the driveway set the tone for everything that followed.
The brothers finally got the chance to play together on a competitive team for the first time in over a decade when they both joined Canada’s men’s national team for the FIBA Americas World Cup qualifying window in July 2026. Ryan expressed his excitement, saying, First time since, like, elementary school. It’ll be fun. It’s cool to just be out there with everybody.
Ryan Nembhard’s Jersey
Ryan Nembhard wears jersey number 9 for the Dallas Mavericks. His jersey has become increasingly popular among fans, particularly following his breakout performances during his rookie season. The significance of his jersey number is personal to him, though he has not publicly elaborated on its meaning.
With the Mavericks exercising his team option for the 2026-27 season on June 29, 2026, fans can expect to see Nembhard wearing number 9 for the foreseeable future, His jersey has even appeared in Sotheby’s NBA Auctions, highlighting his growing marketability and fan appeal.
Ryan Nembhard’s Height
Ryan Nembhard’s height has been a subject of discussion, with different sources providing slightly varying measurements. According to the Mavericks’ official roster, he is listed at 6 feet 0 inches, However, other reputable sources, including ESPN and Basketball-Reference.com, list him at 5 feet 11 inches.
He weighs approximately 180 pounds, His listed height of either 5’11” or 6’0″ makes him one of the shorter players in the NBA, which has been a consistent challenge throughout his career. Despite his lack of size, he has proven that his basketball IQ, playmaking ability, and toughness more than compensate.
Comparisons to former Mavericks guard J.J. Barea are inevitable, given their similar stature and playing style. Coach Jason Kidd has acknowledged this comparison, saying, “That’s what we believe” when asked if Nembhard has the same traits as Barea, who carved out a long NBA career through heart and hustle.
At the college level, Ryan’s height was less of a concern. He averaged 10.5 points, 9.8 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game as a senior at Gonzaga, leading the nation in assists per game and recording 344 total assists, a Gonzaga single-season record, His assist numbers placed him fifth all-time in NCAA history for a single season, He also led the West Coast Conference with 1.7 steals per game, demonstrating that he can be a pest on the defensive end despite physical limitations.
Ryan Nembhard and the Dallas Mavericks
Ryan Nembhard’s journey with the Dallas Mavericks began when he went undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft, Despite being overlooked by every team, the Mavericks saw something in him and signed him to a two-way contract. The decision proved to be one of the best moves the team made that year.
Nembhard quickly impressed during his time with the Mavericks’ G League affiliate, the Texas Legends, where he averaged 23.0 points, 10.5 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game in five appearances, His strong G League play earned him a call-up to the Mavericks, and he made an immediate impact.
In December 2025, Nembhard made history by becoming the first undrafted rookie in NBA history to record at least 25 points and 10 assists with zero turnovers in a game, posting 28 points and 10 assists against the Denver Nuggets, He followed that performance with 15 points and a career-high 13 assists with just one turnover, becoming the first rookie in league history to total at least 40 points and 20 assists with one or fewer turnovers across a two-game span.
His 13-assist outing also marked the most by an undrafted player in Mavericks franchise history, The Mavericks waived veteran guard Tyus Jones in February 2026 to open up a full-time roster spot for Nembhard, who had his two-way deal converted to a standard contract for the final two months of the season.
The highlight of his rookie season came in the final game of the regular season against the Chicago Bulls on April 12, 2026. Nembhard dished out a Mavericks rookie record 23 assists, the second-most in franchise history, in a 149-128 victory, He also added 15 points and nine rebounds, finishing just one rebound shy of a triple-double, The performance set the franchise record for assists in a regulation game and fell two shy of the single-game record of 25 set by former Mavericks coach Jason Kidd in a double-overtime game in 1996, Kidd’s previous rookie record of 17 assists, set on March 13, 1995, had stood for over 30 years.
As Kidd put it when Nembhard signed his multi-year contract, One, we don’t have to worry about how many games he has left. That’s a big advantage. For Ryan it’s now quality minutes and getting him as many minutes and putting him in different situations and seeing how he can handle that and keep pouring into him.
Ryan Nembhard’s Contract
Ryan Nembhard’s contract situation has been a remarkable story in itself. He initially signed a two-way contract with the Mavericks after going undrafted, which limited him to 50 games on the active roster, However, his strong play forced the Mavericks’ hand.
On March 3, 2026, the Mavericks announced that they had signed Nembhard to a multi-year contract, The deal, which converted his two-way contract to a standard NBA contract, was described by coach Jason Kidd as “life-altering” for the young guard.
Per team policy, the financial terms were not disclosed, However, contract details have been reported by salary tracking sites. Nembhard’s two-year contract is worth $2,472,792, with $321,875 guaranteed at signing. His average annual salary is $1,236,396. For the 2026-27 season, Nembhard will earn a base salary of $2,150,917, making him one of the cheapest members of the Mavericks’ roster.
The Mavericks exercised their team option on Nembhard’s contract for the 2026-27 campaign on June 29, 2026, He will become a restricted free agent in 2027.
Jason Kidd praised Nembhard’s work ethic and character, saying, Ryan’s done everything we’ve asked him to do. He helped us win some games, steadied the ship as a rookie undrafted. For him to be able to turn that into a contract, he’s done all the work” Max Christie, a Mavericks guard, expressed his excitement, saying, Obviously, he deserves it. I’m super happy that he got that deal. I’m looking forward to continue playing with him.
Ryan Nembhard’s Stats
College Stats
Ryan Nembhard played four seasons of college basketball, two at Creighton and two at Gonzaga. His college career reached its peak at Gonzaga, where he established himself as one of the best playmakers in the country.
Gonzaga Senior Season (2024-25):
• Points: 10.5 per game
• Assists: 9.8 per game (led NCAA)
• Rebounds: 3.0 per game
• Field Goal Percentage: 44.6%
• Three-Point Percentage: 40.4%
• Free Throw Percentage: 77.0%
He recorded 344 total assists, breaking his own school record of 243 set the previous year, His 344 assists placed him fifth all-time in NCAA history for a single season, He started all 35 games, played 40+ minutes eight times, and had six double-digit assist games and 25 games with 7+ assists, He set a career-high with 16 assists against San Francisco on March 1, 2025.
Gonzaga Junior Season (2023-24):
• Points: 12.6 per game
• Assists: 6.9 per game
• Rebounds: Not specified
He set the single-season assist record with 243 total and led the West Coast Conference with a 4.6 assist-to-turnover ratio .
Creighton Sophomore Season (2022-23):
• Points: 14.6 per game
• Assists: 4.8 per game
• Rebounds: 4.1 per game
He scored a career-high 30 points vs. No. 11 Baylor to send Creighton to the Sweet 16 on March 19, 2023, and tied a program record for assists by a sophomore with 176, He was also named to the Maui Invitational All-Tournament Team after averaging 20.3 points and 4.3 assists.
2025-26 NBA Rookie Season Stats
Nembhard’s rookie season with the Dallas Mavericks was impressive by any measure, particularly for an undrafted player. Over the course of the season, he appeared in 60 games, starting in 27 of them.
Per-game averages for the season:
• Points: 6.6
• Assists: 5.3
• Rebounds: 2.2
• Field Goal Percentage: 41.5%
• Three-Point Percentage: 35.6%
• Free Throw Percentage: 80.6%
All statistics courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com.
Season Splits
Nembhard’s performance varied throughout the season. In games where he started, his numbers improved significantly, averaging 9.4 points and 6.3 assists per game. During April, his final month of the season, he averaged 10.2 points and 9.8 assists per game.
His stellar play in March and April earned him increased playing time and trust from the coaching staff. He scored 10 or more points in 11 games, including a career-high 28 points against the Denver Nuggets on December 1, 2025.
G League Stats
In his five G League appearances with the Texas Legends, Nembhard was dominant, averaging 23.0 points, 10.5 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game, His performance in the G League demonstrated that he was too talented to remain in the developmental league.
Career Highlights
• First undrafted rookie in NBA history with 25+ points, 10+ assists, and 0 turnovers in a game
• First rookie in league history with 40+ points and 20+ assists and ≤1 turnover over a two-game span
• Mavericks rookie record 23 assists (second-most in franchise history)
• Led all NBA rookies in assists per game in 2025-26
• Ranked sixth in total assists among rookies (191) despite playing fewer than 40 games at the time of the signing
• Gonzaga single-season assists record (344)
• Led NCAA in assists per game (9.8)
Ryan Nembhard’s journey from being overlooked in the 2025 NBA Draft to becoming a core piece of the Dallas Mavericks’ future is nothing short of remarkable. At just 23 years old, he has already made history with record-breaking performances, earned a multi-year contract, and established himself as one of the most promising young point guards in the league.
His basketball IQ, elite playmaking ability, and undeniable toughness have won over coaches, teammates, and fans alike. The comparisons to J.J. Barea are not just about stature, they are about heart, determination, and a refusal to be defined by limitations. Nembhard has already broken records that stood for over 30 years, surpassing his own coach Jason Kidd’s rookie assist mark.
As Nembhard continues to develop his game and earn more minutes, the Mavericks have found a bargain in a player who performs like a veteran but is paid like a rookie. His ability to play alongside established stars will be crucial for Dallas as they look to contend in the coming seasons.
Meanwhile, his brother Andrew continues to excel with the Indiana Pacers, and the two have finally realized their childhood dream of playing together on the Canadian national team, For the Nembhard family, it is a moment of pride and fulfillment.
As Jason Kidd aptly put it, Nembhard has “steadied the ship” for the Mavericks, And if his rookie season is any indication, he is just getting started. The undrafted point guard from Aurora, Ontario, has proven that with hard work, determination, and an unwavering belief in yourself, anything is possible in the NBA.
