Kia Rookie Ladder

Kia Rookie Ladder: Andrew Nembhard's big night, plus Paolo Banchero rises up

Indiana's 2nd-round pick was dominant against Golden State, while Orlando's top rookie returns to No. 1.

Steve Aschburner

Steve Aschburner

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Pacers rookie Andrew Nembhard erupted for a career-best game against the Warriors.

Two point guards battled all night long in Indiana’s game at Golden State Monday, producing these stats lines:

Guard 1: 31 points, 13 assists on 13-of-21 shooting and 5-of-7 from the arc, finishing a plus-16 in his team’s 112-104 victory.

Guard 2: 12 points, 6 assists, 3-of-17 and 2-of-10 shooting, minus-17.

The man-bites-dog news here was that Guard 1 was Pacers rookie Andrew Nembhard, Guard 2 was Golden State’s two-time MVP legend Steph Curry. Nembhard’s performance was arguably the most impressive outing so far in 2022-23 by a member of the Class of 2022.

It earned him the spotlight and a climb up a couple of rungs in this week’s edition of the Kia Rookie Ladder. Also notable: Orlando’s Paolo Banchero is back at No. 1, on what had become his customary rung prior to his seven-game injury layoff last month.

Until Monday, Nembhard’s most memorable moment came with his buzzer-beater a week earlier to beat the Lakers on their own court. And prior to that, perhaps the 6-foot-5 rookie from Gonzaga’s biggest claim to fame was landing a three-year, $6.4 million guaranteed contract, extreme assurances for a guy picked in the second round.

But Pacers POBO Kevin Pritchard and staff were sold on Nembhard when they picked him at No. 31. Certainly, there have been solid players selected at that spot in recent years – Nic Claxton in 2019, Cedi Osman in 2015, Bojan Bogdanovic in 2011 – and even deeper on draft night.

Still, Nembhard had a game, in just the 19th appearance of his career, that will stick with him for life. He came through with the Pacers playing without starting point guard Tyrese Haliburton, backup T.J. McConnell and center Myles Turner, and he did it in a victory.

“That’s special,” teammate Buddy Hield told the Indianapolis Star.  “It’s hard to do that. Score 31, make big plays on the other end and guard Steph?”

Said Curry: “Obviously, his stat line is crazy, but I think he controlled the flow to the point where they were getting their bigs involved on rolls, a couple of lobs, they were kicking it out to shooters in the corner.”

Nembhard, who is tied for first in assists among rookies, reminds some of former NBA player Kevin Martin. But Indiana coach Rick Carlisle doesn’t need to compare the 22-year-old Canadian to anyone else.

“This guy has got amazing poise,” the coach said. “He’s strong. He’s old school but new school. He’s special.”

The Top 5 this week on the 2022-23 Kia Rookie Ladder:

(All stats through Tuesday, Dec. 6)

1. Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic

Season stats: 21.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 3.8 apg
Since last Ladder: 17.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 4.8 apg
Last Ladder: 2
Draft pick: No. 1 overall

Banchero had 20 points and 12 rebounds Monday vs. Milwaukee, his first double-double since his sprained ankle. He made up for 4-of-16 shooting by getting to the line 15 times, sinking 12. He also shared some of his post-injury mindset in a rookie diary he’s been doing for The Associated Press. “It’s about patience,” wrote Banchero, whose only previous injury was a concussion in high school. “I just had to learn to listen to my body and be patient. I’m still not as explosive as I was before getting hurt. I feel like I’ve gotten my wind back pretty much, but just as far as explosion and movement-wise, I’m still trying to just speed it up and get back into the flow.”

Paolo Banchero's return to the court aligns with his return to the top spot on the Kia Rookie Ladder, where Bennedict Mathurin slots in again at No. 2.

2. Bennedict Mathurin, Indiana Pacers

Season stats: 18.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.5 apg
Since last Ladder: 14.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.3 apg
Last Ladder: 1
Draft pick: No. 6 overall

In the Pacers’ victory over Golden State, Mathurin struggled offensively (4-of-16, 0-of-6 on 3s) but logged a season-high 40 minutes and posted a plus-9. He also had a social-media moment, grabbing Draymond Green’s attention by grabbing Steph Curry’s leg in the first quarter. Trying to thwart a Warriors fast-break? Simply trying not to get stepped on? You decide, as did Green.

3. Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons

Season stats: 15.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 4.2 apg
Since last Ladder: 12.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 4.0 apg
Last Ladder: 3
Draft pick: No. 5 overall

The Ringer rankled some Pistons fans by suggesting Ivey was drafted too high. In its re-draft, it dropped him to No. 8 and wrote: “He’s still figuring out how to change pace and his shot selection has generally been quite frustrating.” Ivey has shot 33.3% over his past five games in the minutes he’s been force-fed in Cade Cunningham’s absence. (We’re awaiting Detroit readers’ re-draft of media outlets and where the Ringer now ranks.)

4. Jabari Smith, Jr., Houston Rockets

Season stats: 11.8 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 0.7 apg
Since last Ladder: 13.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 0.5 apg
Last Ladder: 4
Draft pick: No. 3 overall

Smith tops all rookies in rebounding, as well as 3-pointers taken and made. In his past nine games, the 6-foot-10, 220-pounder has shot 44.4% overall and 42% from deep, compared to 31.5% and 30.4% in his first 14 appearances. He has kept working while Houston’s coaches and his teammates have found better ways to unlock his offensive talent. “Just keep taking the right shots,” Smith told The Athletic. “Take out some of the bad ones and just keep learning.”

5. Keegan Murray, Sacramento Kings

Season stats: 11.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 0.9 apg
Since last Ladder: 16.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 0.3 apg
Last Ladder: 6
Draft pick: No. 4 overall

Kiss November goodbye – better yet, punch it in the nose and skip it to next season, too. Murray skidded through the month at 8.0 points on 33.9% shooting, compared to his work in October (17.4, 49.3%) and now December (17.0, 54.5%). He was a plus-35 in a 3-0 week. After hitting his season-high 23 at the Clippers, he said: “I had a struggle, but my teammates have my back. … Stay late, get shots up and that’s just kind of been my formula. So I know I’m a great shooter, a great player.”

The Next 5:

6. Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder

Season stats: 10.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.5 apg
Since last Ladder: 16.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.0 apg
Last Ladder: 7
Draft pick: No. 12 overall

West’s Rookie of the Month shot 67.7% in 3-0 week.

7. Tari Eason, Houston Rockets

Season stats: 8.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 0.8 apg
Since last Ladder: 11.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 0.8 apg
Last Ladder: 5
Draft pick: No. 17 overall

When he plays 20+ mpg: 15.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 61.9 FG%.

8. Andrew Nembhard, Indiana Pacers

Season stats: 9.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.9 apg
Since last Ladder: 16.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 8.8 apg
Last Ladder: T10
Draft pick: No. 31 overall

Third Pacers rookie to have 30+ points and 10+ assists in a game.

9. AJ Griffin, Atlanta Hawks

Season stats: 9.7 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 0.8 apg
Since last Ladder: 16.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.3 apg
Last Ladder: 9
Draft pick: No. 16 overall

Not just scoring – 1+ steals in 10 straight games.

10. Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz

Season stats: 5.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 0.6 apg
Since last Ladder: 11.0 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 0.3 apg
Last Ladder: T10
Draft pick: No. 22 overall

More minutes, please: Double-double guy per 36 (13.2, 12.0)

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Steve Aschburner has written about the NBA since 1980. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.

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