Andrew Nembhard

 

Andrew William Nembhard (born January 16, 2000) is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Florida Gators and Gonzaga Bulldogs. Selected by the Pacers with the 31st overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Nembhard has emerged as one of the NBA’s most reliable young point guards, known for his clutch performances and exceptional playmaking ability.

 

Standing 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) and weighing 193 pounds (88 kg), Nembhard plays both point guard and shooting guard positions. He is of Jamaican descent through his father, Claude, and was born and raised in Aurora, Ontario, Canada.

 

College Career

 

Florida (2018–2020)

 

Nembhard attended Montverde Academy in Florida before committing to the University of Florida. In his freshman season (2018-19), he started every game and recorded the fourth-highest freshman assist total in school history, averaging 8.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game. He was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team and hit a buzzer-beater to upset LSU in the 2019 SEC Tournament.

 

As a sophomore (2019-20), Nembhard averaged 11.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.0 assists while leading the SEC with a 2.2 assist-to-turnover ratio. He declared for the 2020 NBA Draft but withdrew and entered the transfer portal on May 30, 2020.

 

Gonzaga (2020–2022)

 

At Gonzaga, Nembhard initially came off the bench as a junior (2020-21), averaging 9.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists for an undefeated regular season team. He was named the West Coast Conference’s inaugural Sixth Man of the Year and earned All-WCC Second Team honors.

 

As a senior (2021-22), Nembhard started and averaged 11.8 points, 5.8 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.6 steals, earning First Team All-WCC and WCC Tournament MVP honors. On April 21, 2022, he declared for the NBA Draft.

 

NBA Career

 

Rookie Season (2022-23)

 

Nembhard was selected 31st overall by Indiana on June 27, 2022, and signed a four-year, $8.6 million contract, the largest rookie contract ever given to a second-round pick. On November 28, 2022, he hit a buzzer-beating game-winner against the Lakers. On December 5, with Tyrese Haliburton injured, Nembhard recorded 31 points, 13 assists, and 8 rebounds against Golden State. He was named a 2023 NBA Rising Star alongside teammate Bennedict Mathurin.

 

Breakout Seasons (2023–Present)

 

In the 2024 playoffs, Nembhard delivered clutch performances, including a game-winning three-pointer with 16 seconds remaining in Game 3 of the second round against New York on May 10, 2024. The Pacers advanced to their first Finals since 2000.

 

With Haliburton suffering a torn Achilles in Game 7 of the 2025 Finals, Nembhard assumed primary playmaking duties for the 2025-26 season. His three-year, $59 million extension signed in July 2024, kicked in the 2025-26 season. He has posted career highs across the board, averaging 17.3 points, 7.4 assists, and 2.9 rebounds through February 2026. His January 2026 performances included multiple 20-point, high-assist games, establishing him as one of the NBA’s rising stars at the point guard position.

 

International Career

 

Nembhard has represented Canada at the U-16, U-17, and U-18 levels. He joined the senior national team for the 2019 FIBA World Cup and was named to Canada’s roster for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

 

Personal Life

 

Nembhard’s younger brother, Ryan, also played basketball at Gonzaga and signed a two-way contract with the Dallas Mavericks. Nembhard is known for his Christian faith and has stated, “My joy comes from my relationship with Jesus, and that’s the most important thing in my life.”

 

References

 

External Links

* Andrew Nembhard on NBA.com

* Andrew Nembhard on Basketball-Reference.com