Age: 23
Years Pro: 1
Status: Entering second year of rookie contract.
Key Stats: Played in 75 games and started 63. Averaged 9.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists, recording five double-doubles. Shot 44.1 percent from the field and 35 percent from 3-point range.
Andrew Nembhard enjoyed an excellent rookie season, putting himself in pole position as the early frontrunner for the title of steal of the 2022 NBA Draft.
The Pacers took Nembhard, a senior point guard out of Gonzaga, with the first pick in the second round, the 31st overall selection. But Nembhard didn't play like a second-round pick. He quickly established a role in the Pacers' rotation, was starting weeks into the season, and enjoyed one of the best rookie campaigns in the NBA this year.
The Aurora, Ontario native entered the NBA with a calm demeanor and a winning pedigree, having helped lead Gonzaga to the national championship game in 2021. He won over head coach Rick Carlisle and his teammates with his steady presence on the floor and his commitment to the defensive end.
The 6-3 guard got many of the toughest defensive assignments as a rookie, holding his own against bigger All-Stars on the perimeter. When the Pacers played the Lakers in Los Angeles on Nov. 28, Nembhard found himself matching up with LeBron James, somehow helping limit the man who would soon become the NBA's all-time leading scorer to 21 points on 8-of-22 shooting.
Of course, Pacers fans remember that game more for what Nembhard did on the offensive end, drilling a buzzer-beating three over James off a broken play in one of the biggest highlights of the season.
All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton set up Nembhard on that play, but Nembhard proved capable of running the show on his own a week later at Golden State. With Haliburton out due to injury, the rookie put together a virtuoso performance to knock off the defending champs, tallying 31 points on 13-of-21 shooting (5-of-7 from 3-point range), eight rebounds, and 13 assists.
That game showed what Nembhard was capable of, but most of his season was defined by his ability to seamlessly fit in. He proved an ideal fit next to Haliburton as he was capable of spotting up as a shooter, but also could take on playmaking responsibilities as needed. He learned from Haliburton and veteran backup T.J. McConnell and emulated their style of play to help keep the offense flowing.
Whether he scored in double figures or not, Nembhard got plenty of playing time thanks to his defense and his ability to mesh with whoever was on the floor. He started 63 games, the first Pacers rookie to start 60 or more games in over two decades (since Jamaal Tinsley started 78 games in 2001-02). He averaged 27.6 minutes per game, seventh among all rookies this season (trailing only the top five picks from the 2022 Draft who played this season -- Paolo Banchero, Jabari Smith Jr., Keegan Murray, Jaden Ivey, and Pacers teammate Bennedict Mathurin -- as well as lottery pick Jalen Williams).
Nembhard finished the year second to only Ivey among rookies in assists, 10th in scoring, and third in steals. He -- along with Mathurin -- was chosen to participate in the Rising Stars event at NBA All-Star 2022 in Salt Lake City, and should be a strong candidate for the event again next season when Indianapolis hosts All-Star.
Nembhard also got a unique opportunity for development over the final month of the season, as Haliburton missed 13 of the final 15 games due to injury. Haliburton's absence allowed Nembhard to slide into the lead point guard role over an extended period, providing invaluable experience in a larger role.
Nembhard generally performed well over that stretch. Over the 13 games without Haliburton, he averaged 16.4 points and 7.7 assists on 47.8 percent shooting (40 percent from 3-point range).
Early in that stretch, Carlisle pulled the rookie aside at halftime in a game at the Bucks, urging him to be more aggressive and look to "get downhill" more on offense. Nembhard took that advice to heart, leading the attack as Indiana exploded for 84 points after halftime en route to their first win in Milwaukee in five years.
"At times I think my demeanor is just to kind of please guys on the court instead of just being aggressive and asserting myself into the actions," Nembhard said. "I think the last five, six weeks I did a good job of just asserting myself more and the game slowed down a lot. I understood when to make plays, when to not...I feel very excited about taking that into next season."
Nembhard dropped 24 in that victory at Milwaukee and had several other strong showings over the rest of the season. Highlights included a 25-point, 10-assist performance in a win in Toronto on March 22 (his first-ever NBA game in his home country), a 15-point, 15-assist outing in a rematch with the Bucks on March 29, and a 19-point, nine-assist showing in a season-ending victory in New York on April 9.
On draft night, Nembhard admitted he was disappointed to slide out of the first round. But in retrospect, it turned out to be a blessing as disguise, as this year made clear to him that "Indiana was the best place for me."
"The experience I think was second-to-none this year," Nembhard said. "I think the best thing to grow your game is playing time. I got to get some playing time, got to be in different roles, really test my game in a lot of different ways. I think I just grew a lot this year. I'm blessed for that experience, blessed for the opportunity."
Nembhard plans to stick around Indiana for much of the summer. He wants to become a more efficient shotmaker, working especially on his catch-and-shoot 3-point attempts knowing he's going to get a lot of those playing alongside Haliburton. Ultimately, his goal is to evolve into an efficient scorer capable of having a 50/40/90 season.
After Nembhard's breakout performance at Golden State, Carlisle quipped that he would go in the top 10 in a re-draft of the 2022 draft class. It will take a few more seasons to accurately assess where Nembhard truly ranks in this draft class, but one thing is certain -- Nembhard falling to the 31st pick was the best possible result for both him and the Pacers.
Andrew Nembhard 2023 Exit Interview
2023 Pacers.com Player Review Schedule
April 17: Tyrese Haliburton
April 18: Myles Turner
April 19: Andrew Nembhard
April 20: Jordan Nwora
April 21: Aaron Nesmith
April 22: Isaiah Jackson
April 23: James Johnson
April 24: Bennedict Mathurin
April 25: T.J. McConnell
April 26: Oshae Brissett
April 27: Chris Duarte
April 28: Jalen Smith
April 29: Gabe York
April 30: Kendall Brown
May 1: George Hill
May 2: Daniel Theis
May 3: Buddy Hield