Steal of the draft? Andrew Nembhard continues to impress
By TYLER SMITH (@TylerSmith_ISL)
ISL Editor
INDIANAPOLIS — There’s something about the number 31 that just fits the Indiana Pacers. And while the 31st pick in the NBA draft is often insignificant, Pacers rookie Andrew Nembhard is quickly making 15+ teams regret overlooking him this past summer. He’s becoming a fan favorite in Indy, and already solidifying himself as part of the long-term Pacers core.
While Nembhard has been solid all season, it was the Western Conference road trip that really put him on the map. Indiana only won two games on that long trip, and he was of course the main reason for each victory. A quick trip down memory lane:
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“He’ll go down as a top 12 or 15 pick in this draft when it’s all said and done,” Head Coach Rick Carlisle said back in November. “It’s where he should’ve been taken. He plays an old-school game with a lot of moxie. He’s unafraid and he’s cool under pressure. He can play point, he can play two, and he defends well. He’s got a lot of maturity.” Carlisle recently added, “I think he’s made for this.”
Remember how rare the 50/40/90 club is? Nembhard has been knocking at the door of that impressive line through most of this season and currently sits at a very solid 45/39/90, while playing a respectable 27.4 minutes per game. His Per-36 minutes are 11.2 points, 4.8 assists, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.3 steals. Teammate Bennedict Mathurin is getting all the attention from this draft, and rightfully so. But rebuilding teams need success stories like Andrew Nembhard if they want to accelerate the timeline. So far, so good.
Nembhard is also all business, and all about winning. A few weeks ago, a reporter asked Nembhard what was going through his mind when he was about to square off with a much taller opponent for a jump-ball. Nembhard calmly responded by saying, “Try to win the tip.”
Check out Nembhard’s improved production by month:
•October: 5.4 points, 2.7 assists.
•November: 8.2 points, 3.2 assists.
•December: 9.2 points, 4.6 assists.
•January: 10.3 points, 3.2 assists.
The Pacers should have three 1st-round draft picks this summer. A guy like Nembhard at 31 makes those Boston and Cleveland picks look a lot more enticing than previously thought. His versatility will also allow the Pacers to be creative when thinking about their roster construction moving forward.
“He’s not a big rah-rah guy,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard. “But what he is is a great quarterback that will organize guys. And he’s just a really low maintenance, fun teammate to have around.”
Add Nembhard to a growing list of good young players for the Indiana Pacers. The future looks bright in Indy.
