‘Dream Come True’: Ryan Nembhard Reflects On NBA Debut As Dallas Mavericks Reset For Washington Wizards Matchup

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‘Dream Come True’: Ryan Nembhard Reflects On NBA Debut As Dallas Mavericks Reset For Washington Wizards Matchup

After a humbling season-opening loss to the San Antonio Spurs, the Dallas Mavericks are quickly turning the page — and for rookie guard Ryan Nembhard, that process means continuing to grow with every possession.

Nembhard made his NBA debut in Wednesday’s 125–92 loss, finishing with 8 points and 5 assists in 21 minutes. While the night belonged to Victor Wembanyama’s 40-point showcase, Nembhard showed composure, pace, and poise beyond his years — qualities that have already earned the trust of his teammates and coaches.

“It was special,” Nembhard said at Friday’s shootaround ahead of Dallas’ home game against the Washington Wizards. “It was nice to get out there with the guys. Dream come true, obviously, as a kid. So, nice to get our feet wet with that one and looking forward to the rest of the season.”

Poise and Playmaking in the Spotlight

Nembhard’s first career basket — a bank shot off the glass — wasn’t how he envisioned it, but it broke the ice.

“Not like that, not a bank shot,” he said with a grin. “But it was good to get that one to go and good to feel good about my game.”

Head coach Jason Kidd experimented with Nembhard sharing the floor alongside D’Angelo Russell, giving Dallas multiple initiators. The pairing produced fluid ball movement in stretches, something Nembhard hopes to continue building on.

“I thought it was a good lineup,” he said. “We got the ball moving a little bit. Still got a lot to work on offensively in terms of our flow and just our pace in and out of sets and into next actions, but I thought it was solid.”

The Mavericks took only 21 three-pointers in the loss — a point of emphasis as the team aims to rediscover its offensive rhythm. Nembhard echoed the theme of trust and execution that Kidd, P.J. Washington, and Max Christie have emphasized since Thursday’s film session.

“We want to play with pace, get to our next actions,” Nembhard said. “If we cut and do all the right things, we’ll get better looks. Just continuing to trust our offense and believe in that.”

Understanding His Role in the System

For a pass-first guard like Nembhard, the Mavericks’ motion-heavy, positionless offense is an ideal fit. Surrounded by scorers like Anthony Davis, P.J. Washington, and Klay Thompson, his focus is on creating rhythm and spacing through timing and precision.

“We’ve got so many talented guys that can score the ball,” he said. “You just have to get them the ball in the right place, at the right time — on-time, on-target passes — and they’ll do the rest. For a guy like me, I’ve got a lot of options and a lot of guys I can get the ball to.”

Embracing the Physicality

Transitioning to the NBA means facing faster, stronger opponents — a challenge Nembhard welcomes.

“Obviously, guys are a little bit bigger, a little bit longer, but I’ve been playing against size my whole life,” he said. “It’s a bit of an adjustment, but I embrace that physicality and I like being physical on both ends of the floor.”

The Mavericks were overpowered in the paint by the Spurs, giving up 68 points inside and 31 in transition. Nembhard’s toughness and ability to defend the point of attack could be crucial as Dallas looks to restore its defensive discipline.

The Mavericks (0–1) face the Washington Wizards (0–1) on Friday night at American Airlines Center, with tipoff set for 7:30 p.m. The team will again be without Kyrie Irving and Danté Exum, while Daniel Gafford remains questionable as he works his way back from an ankle injury.

After a rough opener, the message across the locker room is clear: keep perspective, stay connected, and let trust drive improvement. For Nembhard, that means doing what he’s always done — making the game easier for everyone around him.