On Thursday night, the Thomas and Mack Center bristled with activity, excitement and most of all, anticipation.
Over 17,500 fans packed the Las Vegas arena as Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick and one of the most hyped prospects of all time, made his Summer League debut. To add to the mania, Flagg faced Bronny James, a draw in his own right.
The game was the most expensive Summer League game in history, with an average ticket price of $201 and courtside seats priced at $2,500.
Millions of fans tuned in from home, hoping to see a battle between the two young stars, and instead, a 5-foot-11-inch, undrafted guard stole the show.
Ryan Nembhard, former Gonzaga Bulldog and the younger brother of Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard, finished with 21 points and five assists on 66.6% true shooting en route to an 87-85 win.
The 22-year-old looked poised from the opening tip and was a stabilizing presence for the Mavericks’ offense as Flagg struggled to score efficiently in the half-court. Nembhard worked in the mid-range, using his tight handle and upper body strength to carve out angles that allowed him to get his shot off.
He was more aggressive as a scorer than usual, and many of his shots and movements resembled his older brother’s. Nembhard made big plays down the stretch and hit back-to-back clutch jumpers to seal the deal for Dallas.
He also affected the game as a passer. He was proficient in the pick-and-roll and did a good job of diagnosing what the low man would do in every action. The Ontario, Canada, native pushed the pace in transition and executed the Mavericks’ sets in the half-court and out-of-bounds plays.
Despite his size, Nembhard also competed on defense, often placing pressure on the ball handler when bringing the ball up the court and chasing ball handlers through screens. It wasn’t always successful, but it’s the effort you need to see from an undersized guard.
Nembhard’s performance reflects what’s been said about him since he arrived in Dallas. Mavericks summer league coach Josh Broghamer said Nembhard had been “incredible” in early practices and had played well against some Mavericks veterans. He spoke glowingly of Nembhard’s passing, IQ and command of the floor.
It’s still very early in his NBA career, but Nembhard is off to as good a start as an undrafted free agent could hope for. If he can keep his luck going in Vegas and continue to impress the coaching staff in training camp, he could see rotation minutes as the Mavericks search for point guard play in Kyrie Irving’s absence.
