Jul 21, 2025 11:47 AM EDT
The No. 1 overall draft pick, Cooper Flagg, wasn’t the only player to be shut down early for the remainder of the Summer League.
After two impressive performances, the Mavericks decided to sit Flagg, a move most fans expected in order to keep him fresh and healthy for the start of the regular season. Not long after, Ryan Nembhard, an undrafted free agent out of Gonzaga, was also shut down by the Mavericks following his own string of strong performances.
Nembhard, who many projected to be selected in the early-to-mid second round of the NBA Draft, surprisingly went undrafted — likely due to concerns about his smaller stature at 6-0 and 180 pounds. But the Mavericks wasted no time signing him to a two-way contract shortly after the draft concluded.
That signing has already paid dividends for both Nembhard and the Mavericks. In the first Summer League game, one of the most highly anticipated in NBA history, featuring future stars Cooper Flagg and Bronny James … it was actually Nembhard who stole the spotlight. Outscoring both headline players, he poured in 21 points, while Flagg and Bronny combined for just 18.
The second game was less impressive statistically for Nembhard, as he scored only two points on 1-for-10 shooting. However, he showcased what he does best — running the offense and serving as the “quarterback” on the floor. He dished out 7 assists, playing a pivotal role in facilitating Flagg’s breakout 31-point performance.
With Flagg sidelined after that game, Nembhard took center stage in the third contest. He led the team in scoring with 11 points while continuing to facilitate at a high level, adding 8 assists and 3 rebounds. After seeing enough from the rookie, the Mavericks decided to shut Nembhard down for the remainder of the Summer League — a rare move for an undrafted free agent, essentially treating him with the same caution and respect typically reserved for first-round picks.
When asked about the decision to shut him down, Mavericks Summer League head coach Josh Broghamer said, “I think everyone knows we got a steal in him, and he can play on the ball, off the ball. He’s gonna be a hard-nosed defender, as much as anything. We didn’t need to see anything else from him because we know what we got with him, and we’re very excited about him going forward.”
Nembhard will now continue fighting to earn a permanent spot on the Mavericks’ roster rather than spending most of his time with the Texas Legends, the team’s G League affiliate. With Kyrie Irving expected to miss a significant portion of the upcoming season, Nembhard may have a real opportunity to prove why he deserves to stay in a Mavericks uniform when the season begins.
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