Andrew Nembhard, Ryan Nembhard
From Left: Andrew Nembhard; and Ryan Nembhard.
Ryan Nembhard, a point guard for Gonzaga University, was signed to a two-way contract with the Dallas Mavericks
Ryan will join his brother, Andrew, in the NBA
Andrew recently competed in the NBA Finals with the Indiana Pacers
The Nembhard family’s NBA presence just doubled. Andrew Nembhard, who recently competed with the Indiana Pacers in a nail biting seven-game series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, will soon be joined in the league by his younger brother, Ryan.
After not being selected in the first two rounds of the 2025 NBA Draft, Ryan Nembhard, who reached the second round of the NCAA March Madness Tournament this spring with the Gonzaga Bulldogs, reportedly signed a two-way deal as a free agent with the Dallas Mavericks, according to SI.com and ESPN.
Ryan, the 22-year-old who led the NCAA in assists this past season, will join No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg in Dallas.
NBA draft prospect, Ryan Nembhard poses for a portrait during the 2025 NBA Draft Combine on May 12, 2025 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois.
NBA draft prospect, Ryan Nembhard poses for a portrait during the 2025 NBA Draft Combine on May 12, 2025 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois.
According to The New York Times, the brothers got their start playing driveway basketball against each other with a hoop purchased by their parents, Claude and Mary, in their Toronto suburb. They both competed at Gonzaga University after playing high school basketball at Florida's Monteverde Academy, whose alumni includes D’Angelo Russell and Ben Simmons.
Before making the move to Florida, the Nembhard's had some pretty stiff competition back in Canada as youngsters. Andrew, now 25, told Sports Illustrated about having to match up against the current NBA MVP and NBA Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as kids.
"He was the same size in the eighth grade. Hitting shots, dunking crazy, crazy stuff. He came out the womb like that," he recalled on June 5.
Andrew Nembhard #2 of the Indiana Pacers handles the ball while Cason Wallace #22 of the Oklahoma City Thunder plays defense during the game during Game Seven of the 2025 NBA Finals on June 22, 2025 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Andrew Nembhard #2 of the Indiana Pacers handles the ball while Cason Wallace #22 of the Oklahoma City Thunder plays defense during the game during Game Seven of the 2025 NBA Finals on June 22, 2025 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
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The NBA is not just a Canadian family affair for the Nembhards. Gilgeous-Alexander’s cousin, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, plays for the Utah Jazz. At the start of the 2024-2025 season there were 21 Canadians in the NBA, making Canada the most represented country in the league besides the Untied States.
Speaking to Sports Illustrated about the national representation in the NBA, Andrew says, “It's good for the country. Good for the young guys looking up too. I know when I was younger, I was looking up to players in the league and seeing the possibility of me playing there, and it was always inspiring.”