Andrew Nembhard Continues to Quietly Thrive for Pacers

Former Gonzaga standout Andrew Nembhard has quietly had a great NBA start with Indiana.

Overshadowed by the monumental strides Bennedict Mathurin has taken in the early stretch of the 2022-23 season, Andrew Nembhard has quietly been an impactful member of the Pacers.

Drafted with the first pick in the second round, Nembhard wasn’t thought of as a flashy pick for Indiana. But he’s making all the right plays in whatever role the Pacers have called him to thus far.

Through 12 games, Nembhard has averaged 7.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and a shopping 3.1 assists in just 20.3 minutes of play. Perhaps most importantly, he’s shot 46 percent from the field, 41 percent from beyond the arc and 100 percent at the free throw line.

Even more, Nembhard has been doing so not for a team that hopes to land the coveted Victor Wembanyama, but a 7-6 Pacers squad that will be looking to make a push towards the play-in games.

Most recently, Nembhard, in his third start, scored 13 points on 5-for-6 shooting to help the Pacers slide by the Hornets, 125-113.

In his last four, he’s averaged 11.0 points on 62 percent shooting.

Nembhard has been the definition of steady, providing efficient offense when called upon and remaining a consistency pesky defender on the other end of the court. And that’s exactly what Indiana will ask of him for the foreseeable future.

Make no mistake, Mathurin has been a force so far. But Nembhard is early his spot in the NBA ranks all the same.

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