While Andrew Nembhard is trying to help the Indiana Pacers capture their first NBA championship, his brother, Ryan, is a week from, hopefully, hearing his name called at the 2025 NBA Draft.
The five-foot-11 floor general started his collegiate career at the University of Creighton before following in his brother's footsteps and transferring to Gonzaga.
The younger Nembhard is ranked 62 on ESPN draft analyst Jonathan Givony's big board. That indicates the Boston Celtics' best path to bringing him aboard would be trading down or moving back into the late second round or signing him if he goes undrafted.
However, the Celtics may reshuffle their backcourt this offseason. They could potentially trade Jrue Holiday for financial reasons. That would lead to inserting Payton Pritchard into the starting lineup. In a scenario like this, where a starting guard's moved, and Pritchard joins the first unit, there's a need for a backup point guard.
Ryan Nembhard's offensive profile
A commendable trait shared by both Nembhard's is that they're fearless. Despite the lack of size of the younger of the two, he'll dart to the rim, challenging opposing centers without hesitation.
Often, Nembhard will get the better of them, too. He had a 56 percent field goal percentage at the rim in his final season in Spokane, per College Basketball Scouting.
Maybe he follows in Pritchard's footsteps as an undersized guard who finishes effectively around the basket. However, there is a natural concern about that happening.
Fortunately, that's not what makes Nembhard an appealing prospect. It's his blend of shot-making and pick-and-roll mastery. His 9.8 assists per game led NCAA Division I men's basketball. He had an impressive 42 percent assist rate. The Canada native also registered a stellar 4/1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
ʏᴏᴜ ɢᴇᴛ ᴀ ʙᴜᴄᴋᴇᴛ, ʏᴏᴜ ɢᴇᴛ ᴀ ʙᴜᴄᴋᴇᴛ, ᴇᴠᴇʀʏʙᴏᴅʏ ɢᴇᴛꜱ ᴀ ʙᴜᴄᴋᴇᴛ 🪣
Ryan Nembhard ranks tied for first in the NCAA with 9.4 assists per game#WCChoops | @ZagMBB pic.twitter.com/XmfQZVLMCR
— West Coast Conference Basketball (@WCChoops) January 17, 2025
Nembhard has superb feel and floor vision. He is in the conversation for the best playmaker in this draft class.
Ryan Nembhard ate good on Thanksgiving 🦃 🏀
The senior guard put on yet another dishin’ and swishin’ showcase with an 1️⃣1️⃣-point, 1️⃣3️⃣-assist performance in @ZagMBB huge win in the Battle 4 Atlantis consolation round 🔥
Catch him and the Bulldogs take on Davidson in the… pic.twitter.com/GUDlkYav0u
— Naismith Awards (@NaismithTrophy) November 29, 2024
Nembhard also averaged 10.5 points per contest in his senior campaign. He knocked down 40.4 percent of the 2.7 threes he hoisted. While he's plenty capable of burying shots off the bounce, especially coming off a screen or on step-backs around the elbow, he's at his best as a spot-up shooter.
The former Bulldog boasted a 63 percent effective field goal percentage on catch-and-shoot threes in the 2024-25 season. That ranked in the 92nd percentile, per College Basketball Scouting.
His size will steer teams toward other prospects. However, Nembhard's playmaking and shooting appear like skills that will translate to the next level.
Ryan Nembhard's defensive profile
The Gonzaga guard swiped 1.7 steals per contest. That was the most on the men's side of the West Coast Conference. It's a testament to a pesky defender with a high basketball IQ.
The concern, of course, is that his size will make him a target. Pritchard's quickness, tenacity, and added strength have allowed him to hold up against primary ball-handlers of All-Star-caliber ranging from the MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, to six-foot-six Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham.
Unfortunately for Nembhard, he had difficulty defending bigger guards at the collegiate level. And while his instincts make him a disruptive help defender, he lacks versatility.
Is Ryan Nembhard a fit for the Celtics?
How a team drafting late in the second round, or with the opportunity to make a trade for a selection in that range, feels about Nembhard at least being a net positive when he's on the floor will weigh heavily on if he gets drafted.
As a backup floor general, his offensive package and ability to force turnovers are reasons to believe the answer to that question is yes.
Furthermore, the expectation of where he goes in the draft makes gambling on him seem like a worthwhile wager. That's especially true if he doesn't get selected, and a franchise can sign him after the proceedings.
The Celtics selecting Nembhard would likely require them first sliding back from pick No. 32. If that happens and they're on the board near the end of the draft, maybe the concerns about his height and lack of defensive versatility deter them, but he warrants consideration.