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Ryan Nembhard’s New Contract Proves Dallas Mavericks Genius

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports | By Harry Smith | Last updated Mar 1, 2026 1:55 PM ET

Plucky Mavericks rookie Ryan Nembhard has earned himself a full-time spot on the NBA roster. Number 9 has penned a two-year deal that will see the former NCAA standout line up alongside Cooper Flagg at the expense of recently waived Tyus Jones.

Nembhard has already spent meaningful time on the Mavericks, averaging 6.7 PPG and a valuable 4.9 APG on 18.8 minutes per outing between stints in the G-League. “Nemby” leads all rookies in assists per game, which is to be expected from the man who led the entire NCAA in assists last season. He fits the Mavericks like a glove, but what makes Ryan Nembhard’s new contract a masterstroke by the front office?

Ryan Nembhard’s New Contract Proves Dallas Mavericks Genius

Nembhard is a Steal

Signing Nembhard has proven to be shrewd business by the Mavs. The 22-year-old did not hear his name called on Draft night despite elite college production. His 9.8 assists per game in his senior year are a Gonzaga record. Nembhard’s late entry into the league was enough to deter most teams from taking a risk and undermined his value.

It’s imperative for a team as lacking in draft capital as the Mavericks to make use of smart undrafted signings and cunning yet undervalued second-round picks. Nembhard will prove to be the poster child for this pragmatic philosophy. He’s the definition of low risk with high upside. The NBA rewards basketball IQ, and it often doesn’t come cheap. Undoubtedly, there are 29 clubhouses in the NBA regretting passing on Ryan Nembhard.

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Mavericks are Desperate for Playmaking Spark

The Mavericks have floundered without strong playmaking. Figures such as PJ Washington and Dereck Lively II notably slump without a strong floor general. Cooper Flagg has yet to play with an elite point guard in his time in the NBA. While Nembhard is by no means elite, he is a stark improvement from the departed D’Angelo Russell.

Brandon Williams is the other factor in this equation, who by no merit of his own ability has found his minutes drastically increase this year in Dallas. The point guard is earning a meager 3.9 assists per game in an average of 22 minutes. Williams and Nembhard will likely platoon the one spot for the remainder of the season. It is only a matter of time before Nembhard proves himself to be the nailed-on starter. Regardless, the job will be lost come next season with the return of Kyrie Irving. But Nembhard and his spark plug play style won’t be dampened by this inevitability.

Nembhard Fits the Timeline

Long-time Mavericks fans will draw comparisons to franchise icon J.J. Barea. His sparkplug energy and status as an understated floor general make this the perfect comparison. It’s one thing to have good vision, but it’s another to make the other four guys on the court better in your presence.

Nembhard brings that dog energy to the young Mavericks core. While he may never establish himself as a starter for a championship team, Nemby has all of the tools to be a crucial role player. Sitting under the learning tree of Jason Kidd and Kyrie Irving will only be beneficial for the youngster as he blossoms into the commander of the second unit.

Don’t be surprised if Dallas has Ryan Nembhard and his backup brigade to thank the next time they win the Larry O’Brien Trophy. As for now, the Mavs have nothing to lose. We are merely witnessing the beginning of something special.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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