'He’s Smart as Hell': Dallas Mavericks’ Ryan Nembhard Earns Praise with Strong Summer League Showing

Cooper Flagg may have been the Dallas Mavericks’ headliner during Summer League, but undrafted guard Ryan Nembhard left a strong impression ahead of his first NBA season.

Nembhard appeared in only three games for Dallas before being shut down, but that short stint was enough to solidify his status as one of the top performers in Las Vegas. The Gonzaga product averaged 11.7 points and 6.7 assists while operating with a level of control and polish that exceeded expectations for a two-way signee. In a win over the Los Angeles Lakers, Nembhard posted 21 points and five assists, including the game-winning bucket — a moment that crystallized his poise and ability to manipulate late-game situations.

“You guys saw it,” Mavericks Summer League head coach Josh Broghamer said. “Ryan didn’t have to prove anything else. Everyone knows we got a steal in him. He can play on the ball, off the ball, he’s going to be a hard-nosed defender — and we’re very excited about him going forward.”

Ryan Nembhard Steps Up Without Cooper Flagg

Nembhard’s most complete outing came in a loss to the Charlotte Hornets — a game the Mavericks played without Flagg. In 25 minutes, Nembhard finished with 11 points and a game-high eight assists, orchestrating the offense from start to finish and adjusting his approach as the team leaned more heavily on his playmaking.

“He’s been asked to be off the ball more with Cooper,” Broghamer said. “And then [against Charlotte], I think he almost had a double-double in limited minutes. I think you can see he can run the team or he can play off the ball.”

That performance came just one day after Nembhard struggled against the Spurs, finishing with two points on 1-of-10 shooting and five turnovers. But the bounce-back was immediate. He opened the next game with back-to-back threes and settled into the pace the Mavericks needed.

“Shots are going to come and go,” Broghamer said. “But he’s always going to be aggressive, and he’s always going to have that mindset to shoot and make the right play. When he does that, he’s very hard to guard.”

Scouts Take Notice of Poise, Tempo Control

NBA scouts in Las Vegas took notice — not just of the numbers, but of the finer details.

“He was one of the best pick-and-roll decision-makers I saw in this class before the draft,” one Western Conference scout told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “He’s undersized, but he’s really crafty. He doesn’t just make the simple read — he waits for the big to commit, manipulates the tag, and can make the pocket pass, the spray out, or look to score himself. … He checks a lot of boxes.”

Mavericks wing Matthew Cleveland, signed to an Exhibit 10 contract, praised Nembhard’s competitive edge, calling his vision and quick change of direction “impeccable.”

“Even for someone that’s considered undersized, just the way he uses his body, I feel that’s the biggest thing,” Cleveland said. “Just the way he can use his body and get to a spot is incredible.”

Another scout from the Eastern Conference highlighted Nembhard’s advanced understanding of spacing and tempo.

“You don’t see a lot of young guards who understand tempo the way he does,” the scout said. “He’s rarely sped up, and he reads multiple levels of the defense. He plays with his eyes, not just his handle. That’s the type of thing that usually takes guards a year or two to figure out. It may take some time to adjust against longer defenders, but it shouldn’t require a big learning curve. He can play on or off the ball, and he competes defensively. There’s a lot to like.”

Defensively, Nembhard also earned positive marks. Though not physically imposing at 6-foot-2, he showed an ability to fight over screens, navigate angles in space, and stay attached through lateral actions. According to one scout, that positional awareness is part of what elevates him beyond a typical Summer League standout.

“He’s not the biggest or the quickest guard, but he’s smart as hell,” the scout said. “He anticipates rotations, he fights through screens, and he doesn’t take bad gambles. That’s a guy you trust on the floor in real minutes. He can close games without being a defensive liability.”

Path to Playing Time Could Come Sooner Than Expected

The Mavericks’ staff saw enough to shut him down early, a signal they believe in both his short- and long-term impact as a player. With Kyrie Irving still recovering from ACL surgery and D’Angelo Russell signed to help bridge the gap, depending on how training camp unfolds, Nembhard could emerge as a viable backup and provide additional depth in addition to Danté Exum and Brandon Williams.

Nembhard, 22, averaged 10.5 points and 9.8 assists per game for Gonzaga last season while leading the NCAA Tournament in assists. The younger brother of Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard, he brings a similar combination of high IQ, steady decision-making, and defensive competitiveness that helped his brother transition quickly to the NBA.

With the Mavericks already carrying 16 standard contracts and planning to bring back Exum, scouts believe Nembhard is the type of player who will force hard decisions later.

“He’s going to make someone expendable,” one scout said. “You can’t keep guys like that buried for long. He’s too sharp, too reliable, and he’s already more advanced than some guys on guaranteed contracts.”

For now, Nembhard is expected to begin the season as the Mavericks’ lead two-way guard, with the opportunity to step in as needed depending on health and rotation shifts. His Summer League performance has not only validated the Mavericks’ investment — it’s already reshaped how other teams view the undrafted class.

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