12 assists, 100% from three-point range, zero turnovers. That was the stat line for undrafted rookie Ryan Nembhard in the Dallas Mavericks’ 135-120 loss to the Atlanta Hawks Wednesday night. While the number in the loss column for the Mavericks continues to grow, so do Nembhard’s numbers on the box score. It was a Chris Paul-esque performance from the former Gonzaga talisman, and while his consistency is still developing, these types of outings are becoming a regularity in Dallas. It seems the Mavericks may have scored the last of a dying breed.
Too Small: Is Ryan Nembhard the Next Great Undersized Guard?
Standing at 5’11”, Nembhard is almost half a foot shorter than many of his peers at the point guard position. The dexterity, nimbleness and agility of smaller ball handlers are undervalued in the modern game. It seems every team plays five small forwards in their lineups. The recently retired CP3 is, of course, the poster boy for small guards, and other playmakers such as Kyle Lowry, Mike Conley and Fred VanVleet are aging out of the league. For a generation of basketball fanatics, their departure will signal the end of an era.
Enter Ryan Nembhard, the ball lovers’ point guard. Traditional to the core, prioritizing elite IQ and playmaking over grabbing points for himself, his teammates are better for having him on the court.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Nembhard currently ranks 14th on the Mavericks’ all-time assist-per-game leaderboard, surpassing alumni such as Jalen Brunson and Rolando Blackman. His 4.9 assists per game place him above all other rookies, and his 238 total assists place him fourth in totals despite only 21 starts in 49 games.
One of only four players to achieve 12+ assists and 0 turnovers in a game this season, the landmark performances are only beginning. We saw his true ability in his career game in December, becoming the first rookie since Stephon Marbury to clock 28 points and 10 assists with 0 turnovers in a win on the road against the Nuggets. When it comes to collaborating with starboy Cooper Flagg, their combined box score reads a .028 and .054 above opponents’ percentages per 100 possessions, emphasising the unity in tandem of Nembhards’ playmaking and Flagg’s defense, keeping opposition numbers down.
Nembhard’s Trajectory
Ryan Nembhard’s starting run is going as great as it can in an absolute write-off season. His development at the NBA level will only continue to skyrocket next season as Kyrie Irving‘s understudy. Nembhard will be hoping that these stellar performances are enough to ward off the Mavericks from replacing him with their lottery pick at the end of the season. As a square peg in the round hole of the modern NBA, as a vertically challenged point guard, we can only sit and enjoy his rise as a tribute act to all of the rock-slingers we grew up loving.
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