Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd on Friday commended rookie Ryan Nembhard for his performance at the point guard position in four games this preseason.
Nembhard averaged five points, five assists, 2.5 rebounds and one steal on 44.4% shooting from the field. He is currently tied for the most assists by a first-year player in the preseason, dishing out 20 with only two turnovers across nearly 64 minutes of action.
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The 6-foot Canadian saw playing time in the backcourt with the team dealing with injuries to Kyrie Irving, Brandon Williams and Dante Exum. He helped run the offense efficiently, while getting his teammates involved, which stood out to Kidd.
“He is steady,” Kidd said. “(He) understands how to play the game. Ryan is a point guard who sets the table. In the games that we have put him in a different rotation spot, he has had success finding guys. Even when we talk about misses, we’re getting great looks with him running the show. He is steady, gets us organized, and our pace does not drop off when he is at the point guard.”
Nembhard went undrafted out of Gonzaga after averaging 10.5 points, 9.8 assists, three rebounds and 1.7 steals on 40.4% shooting from 3-point range as a senior. He led the country in assists (344), breaking his own program record for a single season.
The 22-year-old has impressed Kidd and the rest of the team with his ability on the court as a floor general who can make plays for others. He has had some good moments on the court in the early going and could play extended minutes early in the regular season.
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Nembhard signed a two-way contract with the Mavericks and is slated to spend time in the G League. Until the G League season begins on Nov. 7, Nembhard will have the chance to help the Mavericks in the second unit with his overall skill set and ability.
“He led the country in assists in college, so I think you can lean into that,” Kidd said. “I think his teammates lean into that, but I think it is nice to have someone that is thinking about setting the table. I think he’ll benefit from that in this league. Because of his passing, he’ll have the opportunity to score, too, because everybody knows he is looking for his teammates.”
This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Mavericks news: Jason Kidd loves what Ryan Nembhard brings on offense
