Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Former Gonzaga Star Andrew Nembhard Makes NBA History as Pacers Advance to Finals

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Andy Patton | Last updated Jun 1, 2025 5:01 PM ET

Former Gonzaga star Andrew Nembhard and the Indiana Pacers defeated the New York Knicks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals on Saturday, advancing to the NBA Finals for the second time in franchise history.

They'll take on Chet Holmgren and the Oklahoma City Thunder in the championship series, which begins on Thursday in Oklahoma City.

While forward Pascal Siakam (31 points) and guard Tyrese Haliburton (21 points, 11 in the fourth quarter) stole most of the headlines, it was Nembhard's steadying presence on offense and elite on-ball defense against Jalen Brunson that secured the win for Indiana - a sight that is all too familiar to Gonzaga fans.

Nembhard finished the game with 14 points, eight assists, six steals, and three rebounds while shooting 6-12 from the field and 2-5 from deep.

The six steals recorded by the third year guard set a record for most steals in a conference finals closeout game, and continued to firmly establish Nembhard as a folk hero in Indiana.

Andrew Nembhard in Game 6:

14 PTS
8 AST
6 STL (!!)

The most steals ever by a player in a Conference Finals closeout game. pic.twitter.com/CJ1S8v3cAZ
— StatMuse (@statmuse) June 1, 2025

Saturday was Nembhard's strongest performance of the ECF, but he's been an absolute dog throughout this playoff run for the No. 4 seed Pacers - routinely making big play after big play on both ends of the floor.

In 16 playoff games this season, Nembhard is averaging 12.8 points, 5.1 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.6 steals while shooting 48.3% from three.

In Indiana's four losses the 6'5 guard scored 31 points (7.7 per game) with 13 assists (3.3 per game) while shooting 2-9 (22.2%) from 3. In the 12 wins those averages balloon up to 14.5 points, 5.6 assists, and a red hot 52.9% from deep.

But it's been Nembhard's work on the defensive end of the floor that has turned heads nationally - and that was never more evident than in Game 6 when he fully locked up Brunson on the perimeter for nearly the entire game.

In Games 1-5, Andrew Nembhard defended Jalen Brunson for 49 match-ups, allowing 51.0 player points per 100 match-ups

In Game 6, Nembhard defended Brunson for 55 match-ups, giving up just 9.1 player points per 100 match-ups

He was sensational. pic.twitter.com/VQNoJSo22x
— Caitlin Cooper (@C2_Cooper) June 1, 2025

Nembhard and the Pacers will have their hands full against a very deep Oklahoma City team led by MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, former Santa Clara standout Jalen Williams, and of course Holmgren who himself looked outstanding in the team's closeout victory over Minnesota last week.

Either way, Zag fans know one of the two stars from the 2021-22 roster will end this season with a ring, which will be the first won by a Gonzaga player since 2014 when Austin Daye was with the San Antonio Spurs.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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