Ryan Nembhard

One of the shortest players in the NBA proved height means nothing when you've got vision and heart. Ryan Nembhard brought the ball up the court in his professional debut and popped at the elbow for his first career basket, banking home a jumper over fellow rookie Dylan Harper on October 22, 2025 in San Antonio. The 5'11" Gonzaga product attacked again in a half-court set, weaving to the rim for a smooth pull-up floater that displayed the scoring touch scouts underestimated. His finest sequence came when he caught a pass from Cooper Flagg and immediately read the defense, driving and kicking to P.J. Washington for a corner three that epitomized the playmaking instincts that led the nation in assists as a senior. Nembhard finished with 8 points and 5 assists in his debut, offering a glimpse of what would become a historic rookie season that saw him become the first undrafted rookie in the modern era to post consecutive 15-point, 10-assist games. The Canadian guard has since earned 15+ starts in Dallas, proving that being passed over 58 times on draft night meant absolutely nothing when your game speaks for itself.

Rookie Year

Rookie Mint